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Dr. William C L Wu, MD

Specializes in: Interventional Cardiology and Adult Cardiology
Kaohsiung Medical University
Professional interests include: hypertension (high blood pressure), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), echocardiogram (echo), and more.
927 Mccullough Avenue
San Antonio, TX 78215

Dr. William C L Wu, MD is an interventional cardiologist in San Antonio, TX specializing in interventional cardiology and adult cardiology. He graduated from Kaohsiung Medical University. Dr. William C L Wu, MD is affiliated with Baptist Health System and Baptist Hospital.

View Doctor's Full Profile (210) 223-6896

Office Locations

Address:

927 Mccullough Avenue
San Antonio, TX 78215

Some issues Dr. William C L Wu, 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.

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. William C L Wu, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. William C L Wu, MD treated as an interventional cardiologist in San Antonio, TX were cardiac procedures, hospital care, inpatient care and ultrasound (sonogram).

abdominal imaging 11
ambulatory monitoring 49
angioplasty 305
blood draw 270
cardiac procedures 2025
catheterization 557
diagnostic procedures 170
doctor visit 3513
hospital care 1633
implant surgery 18
implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) replacement 11
inpatient care 1561
minimally invasive procedures 746
nuclear scan 373
outpatient care 72
pelvic imaging 11
stent placement (stenting) 268
stress testing 730
ultrasound (sonogram) 1260
vascular procedures 1003

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. William C L Wu, MD.

Gender
Female 678
Male 665
Ethnicity
Black / African American 107
Asian / Pacific Islander 22
Non-Hispanic White 481
Native American / Alaskan Native
Hispanic 719
Other 2
Age
85 and over 179
75 to 84 405
Less than 65 184
65 to 74 574

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William C L Wu, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. William C L Wu, MD treated were high cholesterol, hypertension, ischemic heart disease and diabetes.

Hypertension 60
High Cholesterol 59
Stroke 6
Ischemic Heart Disease 57
Depression 17
Chronic Kidney Disease 39
Asthma 9
Osteoporosis 5
Heart Failure 27
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 16
Diabetes 47
Atrial Fibrillation 9
Cancer 6
Dementia 9

Education & Training

Dr. William C L Wu, MD graduated from Kaohsiung Medical University. He completed residency at Johns Hopkins University Affiliated Hospitals. He has a state license in Texas.

Medical School: Kaohsiung Medical University

Residency: Johns Hopkins University Affiliated Hospitals

Licensed In: Texas

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. William C L Wu, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Baptist Health System
Baptist Hospital

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. William C L Wu, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 2 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. William C L Wu, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in San Antonio, TX. 

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Overall Rating
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General Payments

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

Payments by Company
The Spectranetics Corporation $37,083 CVX-300CVX-300P
$37,000 		TURBOELITE
$83
AngioDynamics, Inc. $11,775 Auryon Laser System 100-120 Vac
$11,775
Cardiovascular Systems Inc. $2,345 Atherectomy Device
$2,136 		Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System
$194 		Diamondback Peripheral
$15
Medtronic Vascular, Inc. $934 Aortic Stent Grafts
$200 		STENTS
$166 		CoreValve Evolut
$144 		Resolute
$102 		Pacemakers
$98 		Other
$225
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP $865 BRILINTA
$384 		FARXIGA
$256 		SYMBICORT
$132 		BYDUREON
$93
Other $7,880 ELIQUIS
$1,182 		LifeVest
$550 		XARELTO
$505 		Repatha
$396 		Impella
$380 		Other
$4,867
Types of Payments
Education $28,323
Long term medical supply or device loan $11,750
Food and Beverage $9,810
Gift $9,000
Honoraria $2,000

Research Payments

Dr. William C L Wu, MD has received 14 research payments totaling $38,514.

Biography

Dr. William Wu is a physician who specializes in adult cardiology and interventional cardiology. Dr. Wu's clinical interests include arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), hypertension (high blood pressure), and chest pain. He is professionally affiliated with Baptist Health System. Before performing his residency at John Stroger Hospital of Cook County and a hospital affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Wu attended Kaohsiung Medical University for medical school.

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