Antony Anandaraj, MD

Biography

Why did you become a cardiologist? My decision to become a cardiologist stems from a personal experience in my early life. After a fainting episode, I was misdiagnosed with severe mitral regurgitation and advised to undergo urgent valve replacement surgery. The seriousness of the situation prompted my mother to seek a second opinion, and a cardiologist in Kuwait confirmed that the diagnosis was incorrect, sparing me from unnecessary surgery. The relief that followed was immense, but the experience left a lasting impression on me. It ignited a deep curiosity about the heart and its complexities, and it made me appreciate the critical role of accurate diagnoses and compassionate care. This moment planted the seed for my passion to become a cardiologist and to dedicate my career to helping others avoid similar situations.

Describe your typical patient: As an Interventional cardiologist, my primary interest lies in treating patients with acute heart attack and chronic coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, aortic valve disease, heart failure, cardiogenic shock and pericardial disease through minimally invasive, device-based techniques. By leveraging these advanced approaches, I aim to enhance recovery times, reduce complications and lower rehospitalization rates, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

My broader vision is to optimize cardiovascular care by combining innovative procedures with personalized, preventive strategies. By integrating cutting-edge technology with lifestyle modifications tailored to each patient's needs, I strive to ensure not only a higher quality of life but also long-term cardiovascular well-being. This comprehensive approach allows me to address both the immediate condition and the factors that contribute to lasting heart health.

Describe your medical specialties or special interest. I specialize in managing coronary artery disease through complex coronary interventions and have a particular interest in coronary plaque modification. My expertise extends to peripheral vascular interventions, renal artery and subclavian artery interventions, CardioMEMS implantation for heart failure and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). I also provide device-based treatments for cardiogenic shock, including intra-aortic balloon pumps, Impella and V-A ECMO. Additionally, I am passionate about utilizing various cardiac stress testing modalities, such as myocardial perfusion scans, dobutamine stress echocardiograms and CT coronary artery calcium scores, for comprehensive risk stratification.

What is the most important thing you want patients to know about you/your medical philosophy? I take great pleasure in spending time with my patients, ensuring they have a thorough understanding of their condition and the goals we set to improve their health. I strive to embody the principles taught by my interventional cardiology mentor, Dr. Samuel Congello, who emphasizes being ‘able, affable and available’ to patients.

What do you like to do in your free time? I cherish the time spent with my wife, Helen, and our beloved dog son, Theo. Together, we find joy in cooking, gardening, watching movies and taking long walks at the dog park. I also treasure moments with my family, which is spread across India, Dubai, the United Kingdom and the United States. Additionally, I play cricket as a bowler for the Corridor Cricket League in Cedar Rapids, which adds another layer of enjoyment to my life.

Do you have any notable ties to the region? Both my wife, Helen, and I are providers in the region.

• Coronary Artery Disease: Diagnosis and catheter-based intervention for acute heart attack (STEMI), chronic stable angina, MINOCA and ANOCA
• Structural Heart Disease: Percutaneous intervention of aortic valve (TAVR)
• Peripheral Vascular Disease: Percutaneous intervention of peripheral vascular disease including renal artery intervention and subclavian artery intervention
• Heart Failure: CardioMEMS remote heart failure monitoring system 
• Pulmonary Embolism: Catheter-based interventions to reduce thrombus burden