Services

Devoted to the prevention and treatment of heart disease, the Carle heart team will work with you and your primary care physician to ensure you receive the care you need.

Cardiology Diagnostics and testing

Cardiology is the branch of medicine used to diagnose and treat heart disease. Services at Carle Heart and Vascular Institute include:

Using the latest technology and techniques, our expert diagnostic team provides the vital information our specialists need to confirm a diagnosis, determine the extent of your condition and plan your treatment. Our echocardiography lab is accredited by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories.

Some diagnostic and testing procedures include:

• 2D and 3D echocardiography
• Exercise stress test
• Dobutamine stress test
• Transesophageal echocardiogram
• Tilt table testing
• Holter monitoring and event recording

Chest Pain Emergency Center

Located in the Carle Foundation Hospital Emergency Department in Urbana, the Chest Pain Emergency Center offers specially trained staff and the latest diagnostic equipment to evaluate and treat patients with chest pain. Carle Foundation Hospital has received accreditation as a Chest Pain Center from the Society of Chest Pain Centers.

Chest pain may be a sign of heart attack. Prompt treatment increases chance of survival; treatment is most effective when it is initiated within an hour of the onset of symptoms. If you or someone you know may be having a heart attack, dial 9-1-1 for immediate assistance.

Interventional Cardiology

Carle's board certified interventional cardiologists perform non-surgical procedures to treat cardiovascular disease. These minimally invasive procedures often eliminate the need for complex heart surgery.

Our specialists perform a full range of procedures, including:

• Angioplasty
• Stent procedures
• Laser angioplasty
• Rotablator procedures

Carle outperforms most hospitals when it comes to delivering speedy care, which is essential in preserving heart muscle during a heart attack.

Electrophysiology

Carle offers full services for the diagnosis and treatment of irregular heartbeats and other conditions related to electrical activity in the heart.

Our specially designed cardiac catheterization lab features the latest computer-guided equipment. Our electrophysiologists also use state-of-the-art surgery facilities to implant pacemakers and defibrillator devices as needed.

Services include:

• Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)
• Radiofrequency ablation of supraventricular and ventricular tachycardia
• Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation
• Permanent pacemaker and implantable defibrillator
• Intracardiac echocardiography
• CryoAblation

Surgery: Cardiothoracic and vascular

The surgeons at the Carle Heart and Vascular Institute perform more open heart surgeries, catheterizations and angioplasty procedures than any other hospital in east central Illinois.

Our cardiothoracic surgeons perform life-saving procedures to treat complications of heart and valve diseases:

• Open heart
• Heart valve replacements
• Coronary artery bypass grafting
• Procedures involving partial artificial hearts

Carle's endo-vascular surgeons provide comprehensive treatment for diseases of the veins and arteries, including stroke due to carotid artery disease, aneurysm and renal artery disease. Treatments include medical therapies, minimally invasive procedures and surgeries such as:

• Angioplasty
• Stenting
• Vascular bypass
• Varicose vein surgeries

Cardiac Rehabilitation

After heart surgery, the cardiac rehabilitation team of exercise physiologists, nurses and behavior therapists develop a comprehensive lifestyle modification program tailored to each patient, focusing on good eating habits, the right exercise regimen and healthy lifestyle decisions. The program includes inpatient rehabilitation before leaving the hospital, a regular exercise program at our facility after you return home, and a long-term exercise and lifestyle modification program to keep your heart healthy.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Locations

Peripheral Vascular Center

For patients diagnosed with peripheral vascular disease, we provide comprehensive care at the Peripheral Vascular Center, accredited by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL). Here, vascular surgeons, cardiologists, interventional radiologists and vascular nurses all participate in the course of treatment.

Vein Center

At the Carle Vein Center, our fellowship trained interventional radiologists perform minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to treat conditions such as peripheral artery disease, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. These minimally invasive procedures result in a shorter hospital stay, compared to open surgery.

Patients benefit from a comprehensive evaluation by fellowship trained specialists for conditions such as varicose veins, spider veins and venous ulcers.

Which treatment is right for me?

Varicose vein treatment options depend on the type and size of the vein. You'll first consult with a physician to determine which is right for you. You may also undergo a venous ultrasound, an imaging exam to evaluate and map out surface and underlying veins.

Treatment options may include:

Large bulging veins

Large veins result from a broken valve that reverses flow of the blood, which increases pressure and causes expansion, much like blowing up a balloon. Endovascular laser therapy corrects the reversal of the blood flow and normalizes pressure in the veins. This procedure is performed in our office.

Medium-sized veins

Phlebectomy uses small, needle-like punctures to remove veins from your leg. This procedure is performed in the office under local anesthesia.

Foam ablation is the injection of small amounts of medicine into medium sized veins, causing them to collapse, this is performed in the office and requires no anesthesia.

Small spider veins

Sclerotherapy is the process of injecting small amounts of a medicine in the veins to cause them to collapse. This is performed in our office and requires no anesthesia. Typically, multiple treatments are required. Please note: Insurance may require up to six months of conservative treatment prior to a procedure to document medical necessity. Conservative treatment includes: wearing of therapeutic compression stocking, leg elevation and weight loss.

Interventional Radiology

Our fellowship-trained Interventional radiologists perform minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to treat conditions such as peripheral artery disease, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The experienced neurointerventional team offers catheter-based endovascular procedures in the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with vascular disease of the brain, spine, head and neck, including aneurysms, and acute stroke.

Carle Foundation Hospital is a designated Primary Stroke Center with a neurointerventional team on call 24/7 to perform life-saving procedures.

Learn more about our interventional radiologist »

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Carle now offers a lifesaving procedure for patients at risk for heart failure who previously had no other options. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an exciting new alternative for patients with severe aortic stenosis who can't have open heart surgery.

Learn more about TAVR »