Advances in technology are allowing more patients with heart disease to undergo successful treatment. These new devices and procedures make it possible to treat more people than we could have 10 years ago. We’re now able to treat them less invasively and at a lower risk, which improves patients’ recovery and quality of life.
With innovative screenings and treatments, Edward-Elmhurst Health leads the way in making a difference in how patients are treated for heart disease. In fact, we are the largest, non-academic provider of heart care in Illinois. Here are a few ways we use new technology:
- Low-dose CT Scan – This imaging test uses X-rays and a computer to examine your heart. The scan is quick and provides your doctor with details about your heart’s structure and how it is functioning. The test is even able to detect coronary artery disease during its earliest stages by detecting calcium deposits in your heart and coronary arteries.
- HeartFlow FFR CT – Using data from a standard CT scan, HeartFlow FFR CT can create a personalized 3D model of your coronary arteries. This is a step beyond Ultrafast Heart Scan and allows your doctor to see any restrictions and the impact they may have on your blood flow.
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) – With this minimally invasive procedure, surgeons can repair your heart valve by inserting a replacement valve into the aortic valve’s place using a catheter. Once the new valve expands, it is able to take over the job of regulating blood flow. We’re No. 2 in the state for the most TAVR procedures performed.
- WATCHMAN – This device is a permanent heart implant used to reduce the risk of stroke for people with atrial fibrillation (A-Fib). It’s designed to permanently close off your left atrial appendage to keep potential stroke-causing blood clots from escaping. With this device, patients no longer need to be on life-long blood thinners. We perform the most WATCHMAN procedures in Illinois.
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) – This procedure is able to open arteries that are closed or blocked, especially important for patients who are too high risk for bypass surgery. The non-surgical procedure uses catheters to place a stent to open blood vessels that have been closed for years.
- MitraClip – This device helps people with worsening heart failure due to a leaky heart valve who are too high risk for open heart surgery. The MitraClip is inserted into the valve using a catheter and, once in place, it helps the valve open and close properly so quality of life is improved. We perform the most MitraClip procedures in Illinois.
- Left-Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) – Used on its own or as a bridge to a heart transplant, LVAD is a pump implanted in the patient’s chest and provides additional circulation to the vital organs in the body, protecting them from further damage. We are the only community hospital in the Chicago area offering LVAD to heart failure patients who do not qualify for a heart transplant.
To find out if you’re at risk for heart disease, take an online HeartAware assessment. You can also call 630-527-2800 to schedule a heart scan or make an appointment online.