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Dr. Ramzi El Accaoui, MD

(616 Ratings)

Specializes in: Adult Cardiology

American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine

Professional interests include: non-invasive cardiology, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), echocardiogram (echo), and more.

200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242

(319) 356-2985

Dr. Ramzi El Accaoui, MD is a cardiologist in Iowa City, IA specializing in adult cardiology. He graduated from American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Ramzi El Accaoui, MD is affiliated with University of Iowa and University of Iowa Health Care.

Office Locations

Address:

200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242

Some issues Dr. Ramzi El Accaoui, MD can help you with:

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. It happens when the blood vessels carrying blood to the heart, called coronary arteries, narrow and harden. This occurs when cholesterol, a type of fat found in the blood, builds up to form plaque, which sticks to the inner walls of the arteries. As plaque accumulates, less blood can flow through the arteries, which may lead to the following:

Angina, which is chest pain that occurs when the heart does not receive enough blood flow.
Heart attack, which happens if the arteries leading to the heart are completely blocked.
Arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, which can develop if the heart does not have enough blood supply.
Heart failure, which may occur if a heart attack damages the heart and it becomes too weak to pump enough blood to the rest of the body.

Certain factors may increase risk for the disease, like smoking, lack of exercise, being overweight, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. CAD tends to develop over decades, so it can go undetected until it has become quite severe. A diagnosis may be established using such tests as:

Electrocardiogram (ECG), which records the heart's electrical activity over a period of time. ECGs can detect whether there is enough blood flow to the heart or if a heart attack has occurred.
Echocardiogram (echo), which creates images of the heart using sound waves. Echos can show whether the heart is able to pump blood normally.
Stress tests, where an ECG or echo is combined with exercise, like riding a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill. This test is done to find out if the heart can function properly while performing a strenuous activity.

Treatments for the disease include medications such as vasodilators, like nitroglycerin, which dilates (widens) the coronary arteries. CAD may also be treated by a procedure called angioplasty with stent placement, where a balloon is inflated inside a diseased artery to flatten the plaque deposits against the artery walls, creating more room for blood to flow.

In some severe cases of the disease, multiple arteries may be blocked, and an open heart surgery called coronary artery bypass surgery may be necessary. This operation transplants a vessel from another part of the body to form a graft that goes past the narrowed arteries, thus enabling blood to flow around those arteries.

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.

Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC)

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is a device implantation procedure that reduces the risk of stroke for patients who have atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the heart beats out of rhythm. Atrial fibrillation causes blood to collect in the left atrial appendage, a small sac located in the top left chamber of the heart. The blood that collects in this appendage can form clots and cause stroke when pumped out of the heart.

To implant the device, a long, flexible tube, called a catheter, is inserted into a large vein in the groin and advanced to the heart. Once the tube reaches the left side of the heart, X-ray is used to guide a thinner catheter into the left atrial appendage. The tiny device is then passed through the tube and into the appendage. When the doctor has made sure it is in the right place, she takes the catheter out, and the procedure is completed.

This minimally invasive procedure usually requires a hospital stay of at least one day. Normal activities may be resumed within a few days. About 45 days following implantation, a test will be done to determine whether the device has closed the left atrial appendage. Check-ups have to be performed every year to make sure the device is in place.

In The News

“The procedure was performed by a team of three physicians: interventional cardiologist Phillip Horwitz, cardiac surgeon Mohammad Bashir, and imaging cardiologist Ramzi El Accaoui.”—"UI Heart and Vascular Center procedure saves Coralville woman's heart", The Daily Iowan, November 2018

cardiac procedures	339
doctor visit	138
hospital care	209
inpatient care	209
minimally invasive procedures	37
nuclear scan	46
stress testing	46
ultrasound (sonogram)	293

**Gender**
Male	297
Female	248

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	517
Black	13
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	192
From 75 to 84	169
85 and over	80
Less than 65	104

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	65
Stroke	11
Ischemic Heart Disease	67
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	49
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	30
Heart Failure	52
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	28
Diabetes	37
Dementia	10
Cancer	11

cardiac procedures	307
doctor visit	237
hospital care	231
inpatient care	231
minimally invasive procedures	38
nuclear scan	57
stress testing	57
ultrasound (sonogram)	250

**Gender**
Male	302
Female	286

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	557
Black	17
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	213
From 75 to 84	186
85 and over	79
Less than 65	110

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	14
Ischemic Heart Disease	64
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	51
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	29
Heart Failure	51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	29
Diabetes	41
Dementia	8
Cancer	11

cardiac procedures	305
doctor visit	277
hospital care	303
inpatient care	303
minimally invasive procedures	56
nuclear scan	32
stress testing	32
ultrasound (sonogram)	273

**Gender**
Male	710
Female	640

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	1266
Black	34
Hispanic	24
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	538
From 75 to 84	362
85 and over	196
Less than 65	254

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	65
Stroke	13
Ischemic Heart Disease	68
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	48
Asthma	18
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	32
Heart Failure	52
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	28
Diabetes	42
Dementia	11
Cancer	12

cardiac procedures	217
doctor visit	272
hospital care	286
inpatient care	286
minimally invasive procedures	30
nuclear scan	31
stress testing	31
ultrasound (sonogram)	186

**Gender**
Male	300
Female	267

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	533
Black	15
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	202
From 75 to 84	164
85 and over	84
Less than 65	117

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	64
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	73
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	56
Asthma	31
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	32
Heart Failure	56
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	31
Diabetes	42
Dementia	12
Cancer	8

cardiac procedures	433
doctor visit	162
hospital care	187
inpatient care	187
minimally invasive procedures	35
nuclear scan	11
stress testing	11
ultrasound (sonogram)	422

**Gender**
Male	366
Female	334

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	656
Black	22
Hispanic	11
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	269
From 75 to 84	211
85 and over	92
Less than 65	128

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	13
Ischemic Heart Disease	69
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	59
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	28
Heart Failure	52
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	27
Diabetes	41
Dementia	12
Cancer	14

cardiac procedures	390
doctor visit	174
hospital care	200
inpatient care	200
minimally invasive procedures	24
ultrasound (sonogram)	392

**Gender**
Male	370
Female	328

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	655
Black	21
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	269
From 75 to 84	200
85 and over	109
Less than 65	120

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	66
Stroke	11
Ischemic Heart Disease	69
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	62
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	29
Heart Failure	58
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	42
Dementia	16
Cancer	14

cardiac procedures	612
doctor visit	188
hospital care	135
inpatient care	135
minimally invasive procedures	70
ultrasound (sonogram)	614

**Gender**
Male	441
Female	388

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	775
Black	32
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	11
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	327
From 75 to 84	266
85 and over	108
Less than 65	128

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	68
Stroke	15
Ischemic Heart Disease	67
Depression	37
Chronic Kidney Disease	56
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	30
Heart Failure	57
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	40
Dementia	15
Cancer	13

cardiac procedures	359
doctor visit	134
hospital care	101
inpatient care	101
minimally invasive procedures	44
ultrasound (sonogram)	361

**Gender**
Male	316
Female	253

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	524
Black	17
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	12
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	234
From 75 to 84	172
85 and over	73
Less than 65	90

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	69
Stroke	11
Ischemic Heart Disease	71
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	63
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	29
Heart Failure	61
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	45
Dementia	14
Cancer	13

cardiac procedures	768
doctor visit	328
hospital care	227
inpatient care	227
minimally invasive procedures	131
ultrasound (sonogram)	770

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Ramzi El Accaoui, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Ramzi El Accaoui, MD treated as a cardiologist in Iowa City, IA were cardiac procedures, ultrasound (sonogram), hospital care and inpatient care.

cardiac procedures	417
doctor visit	213
hospital care	208
inpatient care	208
minimally invasive procedures	52
nuclear scan	36
stress testing	36
ultrasound (sonogram)	397

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Ramzi El Accaoui, MD.

**Gender**
Male	310
Female	274

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	17
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	548
Hispanic	3
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Other	2

**Age**
75 to 84	173
85 and over	82
Less than 65	105
65 to 74	224

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Ramzi El Accaoui, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Ramzi El Accaoui, MD treated were hypertension, ischemic heart disease, high cholesterol and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	52
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	54
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	44
Asthma	9
Osteoporosis	6
Heart Failure	43
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	22
Diabetes	33
Atrial Fibrillation	23
Dementia	9
Cancer	9

Education & Training

Dr. Ramzi El Accaoui, MD graduated from American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine. He has a state license in Iowa.

Medical School: American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine

Licensed In: Iowa

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Ramzi El Accaoui, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

University of Iowa

University of Iowa Health Care

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Ramzi El Accaoui, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.76 out of 5 stars based on 616 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Ramzi El Accaoui, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Iowa City, IA.

4.76

Overall Rating

(616 Ratings)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Ramzi El Accaoui, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Abbott Laboratories	$1,492 Vascular $1,481	Mitra Clip system $12
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation	$391 Transcatheter Heart Valves $391
Boston Scientific Corporation	$91 WATCHMAN Access System $45	WATCHMAN FLX $30	$16
ABIOMED	$25 Impella $25
Itamar Medical Inc	$21 WatchPATONE $21

**Types of Payments**
Travel and Lodging	$1,561
Food and Beverage	$459

Biography

Dr. Ramzi El Accaoui is an Iowa City, IA physician who specializes in adult cardiology and advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology. Dr. El Accaoui is professionally affiliated with the University of Iowa Health Care.