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Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD

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Specializes in: Interventional Cardiology and Adult Cardiology

Professional interests include: pacemaker, cardioversion, CT coronary angiogram, and more.

1202 3rd Street
Corpus Christi, TX 78404

(361) 883-3962

Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD is an interventional cardiologist in Corpus Christi, TX specializing in interventional cardiology and adult cardiology. Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD is affiliated with CHRISTUS Health, Corpus Christi Medical Center, Corpus Christi Medical Center Bay Area Corpus Christi Medical Center Doctors Regional and CORPUS CHRISTI HEART CLINIC, PLLC.

Office Locations

Address:

1202 3rd Street
Corpus Christi, TX 78404

Address:

7121 S Padre Island Drive Suite 116
Corpus Christi, TX 78412

Some issues Dr. Thomas Alexander, 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.

ambulatory monitoring	42
cardiac procedures	861
catheterization	53
diagnostic procedures	46
doctor visit	1316
emergency care	10
hospital care	882
inpatient care	882
lab tests	129
minimally invasive procedures	49
nuclear scan	158
stress testing	379
ultrasound (sonogram)	430
vascular procedures	100

**Gender**
Male	543
Female	589

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	676
Black	36
Hispanic	393
Asian	15
Other	12
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	433
From 75 to 84	374
85 and over	178
Less than 65	147

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	11
Ischemic Heart Disease	73
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	43
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	23
Heart Failure	44
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	27
Diabetes	54
Dementia	21
Cancer	11

ambulatory monitoring	23
angioplasty	42
cardiac procedures	876
catheterization	130
diagnostic procedures	68
doctor visit	1373
hospital care	895
inpatient care	895
lab tests	131
minimally invasive procedures	126
nuclear scan	122
stent placement (stenting)	42
stress testing	323
ultrasound (sonogram)	438
vascular procedures	99

**Gender**
Male	619
Female	655

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	774
Black	39
Hispanic	430
Asian	17
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	507
From 75 to 84	405
85 and over	188
Less than 65	174

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	74
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	67
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	42
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	41
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	27
Diabetes	50
Dementia	19
Cancer	9

ambulatory monitoring	43
angioplasty	42
cardiac procedures	923
catheterization	108
diagnostic procedures	46
doctor visit	1368
hospital care	947
inpatient care	947
lab tests	130
minimally invasive procedures	104
nuclear scan	113
stent placement (stenting)	42
stress testing	296
ultrasound (sonogram)	492
vascular procedures	70

**Gender**
Male	1236
Female	1214

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	1490
Black	78
Hispanic	840
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	986
From 75 to 84	754
85 and over	400
Less than 65	310

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	74
Stroke	12
Ischemic Heart Disease	68
Depression	29
Chronic Kidney Disease	48
Asthma	20
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	42
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	27
Diabetes	52
Dementia	19
Cancer	11

ambulatory monitoring	52
angioplasty	40
cardiac procedures	1049
catheterization	128
diagnostic procedures	69
doctor visit	1433
hospital care	962
inpatient care	962
lab tests	133
minimally invasive procedures	124
nuclear scan	106
stent placement (stenting)	40
stress testing	304
ultrasound (sonogram)	672
vascular procedures	182

**Gender**
Male	651
Female	670

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	811
Black	36
Hispanic	452
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	526
From 75 to 84	416
85 and over	229
Less than 65	150

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	13
Ischemic Heart Disease	65
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	54
Asthma	32
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	42
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	30
Diabetes	51
Dementia	21
Cancer	10

ablation	60
ambulatory monitoring	35
angioplasty	46
cardiac procedures	920
cardioversion	12
catheterization	113
diagnostic procedures	45
doctor visit	1318
hospital care	964
inpatient care	964
lab tests	149
minimally invasive procedures	171
stent placement (stenting)	46
stress testing	202
ultrasound (sonogram)	678
vascular procedures	205

**Gender**
Male	654
Female	686

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	852
Black	40
Hispanic	416
Asian	16
Other	16
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	555
From 75 to 84	422
85 and over	235
Less than 65	128

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	68
Stroke	14
Ischemic Heart Disease	64
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	55
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	23
Heart Failure	40
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	29
Diabetes	50
Dementia	21
Cancer	11

ambulatory monitoring	29
angioplasty	34
cardiac procedures	860
cardioversion	10
catheterization	106
diagnostic procedures	56
doctor visit	1326
hospital care	825
inpatient care	825
minimally invasive procedures	102
stent placement (stenting)	34
stress testing	181
ultrasound (sonogram)	625
vascular procedures	145

**Gender**
Male	686
Female	656

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	845
Black	36
Hispanic	421
Asian	21
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	543
From 75 to 84	470
85 and over	202
Less than 65	127

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	11
Ischemic Heart Disease	62
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	55
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	23
Heart Failure	39
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	28
Diabetes	47
Dementia	20
Cancer	11

abdominal imaging	12
ambulatory monitoring	30
angioplasty	62
cardiac procedures	929
cardioversion	12
catheterization	148
diagnostic procedures	56
doctor visit	1313
hospital care	826
inpatient care	826
minimally invasive procedures	159
pelvic imaging	12
stent placement (stenting)	62
stress testing	145
ultrasound (sonogram)	683
vascular procedures	183

**Gender**
Male	662
Female	601

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	794
Black	34
Hispanic	401
Asian	21
Other	13
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	538
From 75 to 84	430
85 and over	188
Less than 65	107

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	63
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	55
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	22
Heart Failure	37
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	49
Dementia	18
Cancer	12

abdominal imaging	14
ambulatory monitoring	40
angioplasty	26
cardiac procedures	786
cardioversion	16
catheterization	89
diagnostic procedures	51
doctor visit	1609
hospital care	849
inpatient care	849
minimally invasive procedures	97
pelvic imaging	14
stent placement (stenting)	26
stress testing	140
ultrasound (sonogram)	589
vascular procedures	130

**Gender**
Male	666
Female	606

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	806
Black	31
Hispanic	400
Asian	18
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	537
From 75 to 84	415
85 and over	193
Less than 65	127

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	64
Depression	29
Chronic Kidney Disease	56
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	36
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	48
Dementia	18
Cancer	10

ambulatory monitoring	35
angioplasty	70
cardiac procedures	1490
cardioversion	13
catheterization	208
diagnostic procedures	104
doctor visit	2549
hospital care	1377
inpatient care	1377
minimally invasive procedures	243
stent placement (stenting)	70
stress testing	177
ultrasound (sonogram)	1179
vascular procedures	322

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD treated as an interventional cardiologist in Corpus Christi, TX were cardiac procedures, inpatient care, hospital care and ultrasound (sonogram).

abdominal imaging	13
ablation	60
ambulatory monitoring	36
angioplasty	45
cardiac procedures	972
cardioversion	12
catheterization	121
diagnostic procedures	60
doctor visit	1513
emergency care	10
hospital care	947
inpatient care	947
lab tests	134
minimally invasive procedures	135
nuclear scan	124
pelvic imaging	13
stent placement (stenting)	45
stress testing	240
ultrasound (sonogram)	646
vascular procedures	165

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD.

**Gender**
Male	571
Female	567

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	33
Asian / Pacific Islander	10
Non-Hispanic White	704
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	375
Other	4

**Age**
75 to 84	368
85 and over	181
Less than 65	127
65 to 74	462

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD From 2013 - 2021

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

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	59
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	52
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	40
Asthma	11
Osteoporosis	9
Heart Failure	32
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	21
Diabetes	40
Atrial Fibrillation	17
Cancer	8
Dementia	15

Education & Training

He completed residency at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and has a state license in Pennsylvania.

Residency: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and Affiliated Hospitals (1990)

Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine

Licensed In: Pennsylvania

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

CHRISTUS Health

Corpus Christi Medical Center

Corpus Christi Medical Center Bay Area Corpus Christi Medical Center Doctors Regional

CORPUS CHRISTI HEART CLINIC, PLLC

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General Payments

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

**Payments by Company**
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc	$119,265 XARELTO $119,055	INVOKANA $133	BOSENTAN TABLETS $60	Bosentan $17
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP	$38,914 BRILINTA $38,467	FARXIGA $262	ANDEXXA $119	$66
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC	$34,869 PRALUENT $32,960	MULTAQ $113	HYPERLIPIDEMIA - DISEASE $23	$1,773
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation	$26,814 ENTRESTO $25,983	LEQVIO $247	NON BRAND $10	$574
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.	$18,224 CoreValve Evolut $8,223	Valiant Captivia $1,706	ClosureFast $1,548	VenaSeal $1,024	HawkOne $892	Other $4,832
Other	$40,797 PRALUENT (alirocumab) Injection $10,488	Transcatheter Heart Valves $3,258	Pulse $2,197	COREVALVE EVOLUT R $2,070	WATCHMAN $1,558	Other $21,226

**Types of Payments**
Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program	$199,420
Travel and Lodging	$38,911
Food and Beverage	$36,763
Consulting Fee	$1,980
Compensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker for a non-accredited and noncertified continuing education program	$1,500
Other	$309

Biography

Dr. Thomas Alexander specializes in adult cardiology. He is professionally affiliated with Corpus Christi Medical Center.

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Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD

Office Locations

Some issues Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD can help you with:

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD in 2013

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD in 2014

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD in 2015

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD in 2016

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD in 2017

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD in 2018

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD in 2019

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD in 2020

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas Alexander, MD From 2013 - 2021

Education & Training

Affiliations & Hospitals

Ratings & Reviews

General Payments

Biography

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