Heart & Vascular Care

Innovative Care

Valve Clinic

Early identification and comprehensive monitoring of valve disease is everyone's best interest to keep the heart strong. Patients are usually first identified on having valve disease when their provider listens to their heart and hears abnormal sounds called murmurs. Not all murmurs are concerning, but those that are concerning need evaluation and treatment. Through the use of painless sound waves called, ultrasound, the heart valves can be visualized and the function of the heart assessed.

Mitral valve repair

The mitral valve is one of four heart valves that direct the blood through the heart. When the mitral valve does not function properly it can lead to symptoms, heart damage and potentially death. Early stages of mitral valve disease can be treated with medicines, but often time's surgery is necessary. During mitral valve repair, an individual's own tissue is corrected whereas in replacement surgery an artificial valve "replaces" an individuals own valve. If possible, mitral valve repair is preferred to replacement surgery.

Congenital Heart Defect Repair

A naturally occurring hole in the heart known as patent foreman ovale (PFO) is open during development of Repair of a PFO can be performed with traditional surgical techniques or through the use of catheters placed in a blood vessel near the leg and fed to the heart. An interventional cardiologist implants a device containing self-expanding mesh discs into the hole of the heart. Once in place the disc expands and seals the hole treating the condition. Patients are usually in the hospital overnight and are able to return to work in about two days.

Carotid Artery (neck artery) stenting

Narrowing of the neck arteries can lead to stroke. Through the use of tiny wires, balloons and meshwork called stents; these narrowing can be corrected restoring blood flow to the brain. Studies have suggested that carotid artery stenting is safe and one of the most effective treatments to reduce the risk of stroke, especially in the elderly population.

UW Heart Failure and Transplant Program

People with heart failure in Northeast Wisconsin have access to a comprehensive program designed to help manage every stage of disease. Through a partnership with UW Hospitals and Clinics from Madison, you can access specialists with a full range of diagnostic, medical and surgical options without traveling outside the area. Some of the options available to you are:

Heart Failure evaluation, treatment and management
Expertise in unusual cause of heart failure
Destination therapy for end-stage heart failure
Heart transplantation

The UW Heart Failure & Transplant program is at the Prevea Health Allouez Health Center located at 1821 S. Webster Ave. For more information or to make an appointment call 920-431-1850 or 888-2PREVEA.