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Dr. Nicholas J. Ruggiero II, MD

Accepting New Patients

(Dr. Nicholas Joseph Ruggiero II, M.D.)

Specializes in: Interventional Cardiology and Adult Cardiology

Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College

Professional interests include: peripheral vascular disease, angioplasty, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and more.

1101 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

(215) 955-2919

Dr. Nicholas J. Ruggiero II, MD is an interventional cardiologist in Philadelphia, PA specializing in interventional cardiology and adult cardiology. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College. Dr. Nicholas J. Ruggiero II, MD is affiliated with Jefferson Health, Jefferson University Physicians (JUP) and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Office Locations

Address:

1101 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Address:

111 S 11th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Some issues Dr. Nicholas J. Ruggiero II, MD can help you with:

Angioplasty

Angioplasty is a common, minimally invasive procedure performed to restore blood flow in arteries and veins that have become narrowed or blocked. Age or illness can cause plaque to build up at certain spots within the veins and arteries, and if enough collects, it can restrict the flow of blood. Angioplasty uses a tiny balloon at the end of a small, flexible tube to inflate within the narrowed section and open it up again.

Angioplasty may be performed in several different areas of the body and for a variety of reasons, most often:

Peripheral arterial disease, which reduces blood flow in the arms or legs
Atherosclerosis, or general hardening of the arteries
Carotid artery stenosis, or narrowing of the arteries in the neck that supply the brain
Coronary artery disease, or narrowing of the arteries near the heart
Renal vascular hypertension, or narrowing of the arteries in the kidney, leading to increased blood pressure

During angioplasty, a patient is given a sedative while lying on a table under an x-ray machine. A catheter (a thin, flexible, and hollow tube) is inserted into the patient's skin in the arm or groin and guided into the blocked artery. Dye is injected via the catheter, and x-rays are used to position the tip of the catheter exactly at the blockage. The tiny balloon is guided through the catheter and inflated with saline. It pushes the plaque out of the way, squishing it against the walls of the artery. The balloon may be inflated and deflated several times to let blood pass by. A stent, a tiny tube of metal mesh like a spring, may be inserted to help keep the artery open. Then the x-ray is used again to check that blood is flowing properly, the catheter is removed, and the tiny incision is bandaged.

There are no nerves within veins and arteries, so an angioplasty is generally not painful. However, there may be some discomfort at the site of the incision and when the balloon is inflated. Overall, angioplasty is a very effective and low-risk procedure, useful for helping patients avoid more difficult bypass surgery.

Heart Attack

A heart attack is a serious medical event that happens when the blood supplying oxygen to the heart is cut off, usually because of a blockage in an artery. This results in damage or death of part of the heart muscle. The heart can heal, but like any part of the body that was injured it leaves a scar. This scar tissue does not contract effectively, so the ability of the heart to pump is lowered after a heart attack.

A heart attack, sometimes called a myocardial infarction, can happen without warning. However there are certain factors that raise the risk of heart attack. Some of these are:

Age
Gender (most heart attack sufferers are male)
A family history of heart attacks
Smoking
Obesity
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Unhealthy lifestyle choices (lack of exercise, poor diet, too much alcohol or stress)

Heart attacks typically feel like pain or pressure in the chest that can radiate out to the back, arm, or jaw. Some other symptoms can include fatigue or weakness, shortness of breath, sweating, and nausea.

Treatment aims to increase blood flow to the heart muscle by opening up blocked blood vessels. Medications are sometimes used to dissolve clots in the arteries. Aspirin and other medications such as Plavix can thin the blood and make clots less likely to form. Dilators can widen blood vessels to make room for more blood to flow. Doctors can also use a procedure called catheterization to look at the blood vessels around the heart directly, place stents, or widen vessels using angioplasty. In extreme cases bypass surgery can be used to help blood flow better. After recovery, it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle and take any prescribed medications in order to protect the heart.

Heart Problems

The heart is one of the most important organs in the body. This smooth muscle expands and contracts rhythmically an entire lifetime, pumping blood to the lungs and then to every other cell in the body. When heart problems occur, it becomes difficult for the body to get the nutrients and oxygen it needs via the blood. So while there are a variety of illnesses and disorders that affect the heart, most of them cause weakness, exhaustion and shortness of breath. The most common heart conditions include heart disease, angina, arrhythmia, and valve disorders.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. This includes coronary artery disease, heart attacks, congestive heart failure, and congenital heart disease. Some conditions, such as genetics, cannot be controlled. But there are many other things one can do to lower their risk for heart disease. Controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing or stopping smoking, exercising more and losing weight if needed, and eating a diet low in sodium can all protect the heart.

Angina is a squeezing type of chest pain that happens when the muscles around the heart don't get enough oxygen. It can be regular or infrequent. Usually, angina is caused by coronary heart disease. However, not all chest pain is angina. Chest pain can also be caused by a lung infection or panic attack, for example, so it is important to have any sudden pain checked.

Arrhythmia is the word for when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly with skipped beats. It can feel frightening, and depending on the type it can be dangerous, but in most cases arrhythmia is not serious and can be treated. It is very common, especially in older adults.

Heart valve problems can happen in any one of the the heart's four valves that keep blood flowing where it needs to go. Babies can be born with problems in their heart valves, or valves can be damaged by infections. The valves can stiffen and become less mobile, or they can stop closing properly and 'leak' when the heart beats. Valve problems can usually be repaired surgically.

In The News

“Director of Structural Heart Disease and Non Coronary Interventions at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Dr. Nicholas Ruggiero says, "We have all of our stresses in our own life and you expect...”—"Philadelphia Eagles Fans Top List Of 'Most Depressed'", CBS San Francisco, January 2011

**Gender**
Male	392
Female	317

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	546
Black	119
Hispanic	15
Asian	16
Other	13
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	287
From 75 to 84	205
85 and over	81
Less than 65	136

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	15
Ischemic Heart Disease	72
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	28
Heart Failure	46
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	27
Diabetes	48
Dementia	12
Cancer	15

abdominal imaging	11
cardiac procedures	112
catheterization	72
diagnostic procedures	75
doctor visit	328
hospital care	14
inpatient care	14
minimally invasive procedures	78
pelvic imaging	11
ultrasound (sonogram)	132
vascular procedures	230

**Gender**
Male	387
Female	309

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	530
Black	127
Hispanic	0
Asian	22
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	278
From 75 to 84	195
85 and over	100
Less than 65	123

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	16
Ischemic Heart Disease	72
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	30
Heart Failure	50
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	42
Dementia	14
Cancer	17

cardiac procedures	108
catheterization	59
diagnostic procedures	62
doctor visit	425
hospital care	129
inpatient care	129
minimally invasive procedures	72
ultrasound (sonogram)	88
vascular procedures	158

**Gender**
Male	742
Female	628

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	1048
Black	248
Hispanic	28
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	556
From 75 to 84	370
85 and over	198
Less than 65	246

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	18
Ischemic Heart Disease	73
Depression	29
Chronic Kidney Disease	52
Asthma	22
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	29
Heart Failure	52
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	27
Diabetes	44
Dementia	17
Cancer	18

abdominal imaging	19
angioplasty	22
cardiac procedures	199
catheterization	120
diagnostic procedures	87
doctor visit	470
hospital care	262
inpatient care	262
minimally invasive procedures	147
pelvic imaging	19
stent placement (stenting)	22
ultrasound (sonogram)	172
vascular procedures	288

**Gender**
Male	449
Female	360

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	637
Black	116
Hispanic	12
Asian	25
Other	19
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	305
From 75 to 84	243
85 and over	123
Less than 65	138

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	16
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	56
Asthma	29
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	29
Heart Failure	56
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	45
Dementia	20
Cancer	19

abdominal imaging	17
cardiac procedures	148
catheterization	75
diagnostic procedures	78
doctor visit	451
hospital care	179
inpatient care	179
minimally invasive procedures	98
pelvic imaging	17
ultrasound (sonogram)	143
vascular procedures	249

**Gender**
Male	428
Female	321

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	585
Black	107
Hispanic	15
Asian	24
Other	18
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	297
From 75 to 84	228
85 and over	121
Less than 65	103

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	73
Stroke	16
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	55
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	31
Heart Failure	54
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	43
Dementia	19
Cancer	17

abdominal imaging	14
cardiac procedures	207
catheterization	90
diagnostic procedures	93
doctor visit	472
hospital care	158
inpatient care	158
minimally invasive procedures	142
pelvic imaging	14
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures	14
ultrasound (sonogram)	138
vascular procedures	239

**Gender**
Male	352
Female	292

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	518
Black	77
Hispanic	0
Asian	16
Other	16
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	228
From 75 to 84	213
85 and over	113
Less than 65	90

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	19
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	54
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	35
Heart Failure	53
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	27
Diabetes	43
Dementia	19
Cancer	18

abdominal imaging	13
cardiac procedures	181
catheterization	76
diagnostic procedures	79
doctor visit	464
hospital care	104
inpatient care	104
minimally invasive procedures	118
pelvic imaging	13
ultrasound (sonogram)	135
vascular procedures	230

**Gender**
Male	398
Female	329

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	557
Black	102
Hispanic	28
Asian	21
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	290
From 75 to 84	216
85 and over	107
Less than 65	114

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	16
Ischemic Heart Disease	72
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	55
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	31
Heart Failure	50
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	43
Dementia	17
Cancer	16

abdominal imaging	14
cardiac procedures	131
catheterization	80
diagnostic procedures	83
doctor visit	434
hospital care	66
inpatient care	66
minimally invasive procedures	106
pelvic imaging	14
ultrasound (sonogram)	168
vascular procedures	228

**Gender**
Male	310
Female	242

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	438
Black	72
Hispanic	0
Asian	20
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	215
From 75 to 84	190
85 and over	86
Less than 65	61

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	12
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	54
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	29
Heart Failure	47
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	23
Diabetes	41
Dementia	14
Cancer	15

abdominal imaging	42
cardiac procedures	308
catheterization	158
diagnostic procedures	161
doctor visit	1013
hospital care	264
inpatient care	264
minimally invasive procedures	226
pelvic imaging	42
ultrasound (sonogram)	292
vascular procedures	441

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Nicholas J. Ruggiero II, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Nicholas J. Ruggiero II, MD treated as an interventional cardiologist in Philadelphia, PA were vascular procedures, cardiac procedures, ultrasound (sonogram) and inpatient care.

abdominal imaging	18
angioplasty	22
cardiac procedures	173
catheterization	93
diagnostic procedures	89
doctor visit	481
hospital care	147
inpatient care	147
minimally invasive procedures	125
pelvic imaging	18
stent placement (stenting)	22
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures	14
ultrasound (sonogram)	160
vascular procedures	260

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nicholas J. Ruggiero II, MD.

**Gender**
Male	345
Female	279

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	96
Asian / Pacific Islander	14
Non-Hispanic White	485
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	9
Other	6

**Age**
75 to 84	186
85 and over	92
Less than 65	101
65 to 74	245

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nicholas J. Ruggiero II, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Nicholas J. Ruggiero II, MD treated were high cholesterol, hypertension, ischemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	59
Stroke	12
Ischemic Heart Disease	58
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	41
Asthma	11
Osteoporosis	7
Heart Failure	40
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	34
Atrial Fibrillation	24
Cancer	13
Dementia	13

Education & Training

Dr. Nicholas J. Ruggiero II, MD graduated from Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College. He completed residency at Jefferson University Hospitals. He is certified by the Interventional Cardiology Internal Medicine Cardiology and has a state license in Pennsylvania.

Medical School: Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College

Residency: Jefferson University Hospitals

Board Certification: Interventional Cardiology Internal Medicine Cardiology

Licensed In: Pennsylvania

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Nicholas J. Ruggiero II, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Jefferson Health

Jefferson University Physicians (JUP)

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Nicholas J. Ruggiero II, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: United Healthcare Community Plan (AmeriChoice), QualCare, Aetna Medicare, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, CIGNA Medicare, Blue Cross Federal, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, GEHA, WellCare, AmeriHealth, AARP, MultiPlan, CIGNA Commercial, Aetna, Geisinger Health Plan, US Family Health Plan, United Healthcare, Medicaid, Humana, Workers' Compensation, Cigna, Devon Health, TRICARE, First Health, WellPoint, Jefferson Health Plans (Medicare & ACA), Medical Assistance of New Jersey, Provider Partners Medicare, PA Health and Wellness CHC, Devoted Medicare, Medical Assistance of Delaware, Keystone First/CHC/VIP, Blue Card by BCBS, Medicare FFS, Medical Assistance of Pennsylvania, Independence Blue Cross - Various plans, UPMC, Highmark Wholecare, Ambetter from PA Health and Wellness and Keystone First VIP.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Nicholas J. Ruggiero II, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

United Healthcare Community Plan (AmeriChoice)

QualCare

Aetna Medicare

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

CIGNA Medicare

Blue Cross Federal

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield

GEHA

WellCare

AmeriHealth

AARP

MultiPlan

CIGNA Commercial

Aetna

Geisinger Health Plan

US Family Health Plan

United Healthcare

Medicaid

Humana

Workers' Compensation

Cigna

Devon Health

TRICARE

First Health

WellPoint

Jefferson Health Plans (Medicare & ACA)

Medical Assistance of New Jersey

Provider Partners Medicare

PA Health and Wellness CHC

Devoted Medicare

Medical Assistance of Delaware

Keystone First/CHC/VIP

Blue Card by BCBS

Medicare FFS

Medical Assistance of Pennsylvania

Independence Blue Cross - Various plans

UPMC

Highmark Wholecare

Ambetter from PA Health and Wellness

Keystone First VIP

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Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Nicholas J. Ruggiero II, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 7090 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Nicholas J. Ruggiero II, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Philadelphia, PA.

4.9

Overall Rating

(7090 Ratings)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Nicholas J. Ruggiero II, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation	$76,633 Gilenya $76,552	ENTRESTO $66	LEQVIO $15
Abbott Laboratories	$47,757 AMPLATZER Occluders $27,964	Occluders $10,328	Aortic and Mitral Mechanical Valves $2,856	Mitra Clip system $2,119	AMPLATZER TALISMAN $1,750	Other $2,740
St. Jude Medical, Inc.	$26,848 Structural Heart $12,891	Vascular $12,788	Electrophysiology $964	AMPLATZER $144	DRAGONFLY $46	Other $16
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation	$20,548 Transcatheter Heart Valves $8,812	Edwards SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve $8,367	Edwards SAPIEN 3 Ultra Transcatheter Heart Valve $1,343	EDWARDS SAPIEN 3 TRANSCATHETER HEART VALVE (THV) $939	SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA $220	Other $868
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.	$4,520 CoreValve Evolut $1,636	Heart Valves $1,601	STENTS $394	Resolute $271	CareLink Express $160	Other $458
Other	$23,965 Impella $2,024	ONYX FRONTIER $1,166	Aggrastat (tirofiban HCl) $592	RESOLUTE ONYX $588	Pradaxa $497	Other $19,098

**Types of Payments**
Compensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker for a non-accredited and noncertified continuing education program	$70,025
Consulting Fee	$43,646
Travel and Lodging	$34,601
Food and Beverage	$32,163
Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program	$15,162
Other	$4,675

Research Payments

Dr. Nicholas J. Ruggiero II, MD has received 27 research payments totaling $77,604.

Biography

Dr. Nicholas Ruggiero works as an adult cardiology and interventional cardiology. Patient reviews placed Dr. Ruggiero at an average of 5.0 stars (out of 5). He graduated from Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College. He is affiliated with Jefferson University Physicians (JUP).