Medical and Surgical Treatment

• Request An Appointment
• Refer A Patient

Indiana University Health Cardiovascular provides a full range of medical and surgical treatment for heart disease. As Indiana's only heart program nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report, cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and clinical specialists lead the state in implementing innovative procedures and providing outstanding patient care.

Consult your physician for additional questions and information about preparing for these procedures.

Learn more about our medical and surgical treatments:

Aortic Aneurysm Repair/Removal

When part of the aorta becomes weakened and begins to widen (bulge), this is called an aortic aneurysm. Depending on the size and location of the aneurysm, doctors must either replace the affected portion of the aorta with a fabric substitute or repair it with a stent.  Learn more.

Aortic Dissection Repair

An aortic dissection occurs when a tear develops in the inner layer of the aorta. As blood flows through this tear, it causes the inner and middle layers of the aorta to separate (dissect). Surgery to repair the affected portion of the aorta is the most common treatment, however in certain cases they may be treated with medication. Learn more.

Balloon Angioplasty and Stents

Balloon angioplasty is a medical procedure that opens narrowed or blocked blood vessels of the heart. This is done by using a long, thin tube (catheter) with a small balloon on its tip. Doctors insert the catheter into the affected artery and inflate the balloon. This presses the plaque against the artery wall and allows blood to flow more freely. Learn more about balloon angioplasty.

Stents are small, mesh tubes placed in narrow or blocked arteries to keep them open. A stent procedure often coincides with balloon angioplasty. Learn more about stents.

Balloon Valvuloplasty

A balloon valvuloplasty is a treatment option similar to a balloon angioplasty, but is used in patients suffering from pulmonary valve stenosis. This is a condition where blood flow from the lower chamber (right ventricle) of the heart is blocked at the valve that separates the heart from the pulmonary artery (pulmonic valve).

Cardiac Catheterization

Cardiac catheterization involves passing a catheter (a thin flexible tube) into the right or left side of the heart to get information about the organ or its blood vessels or to provide treatment in certain types of heart conditions. Learn more.

Cardioversion

Cardioversion is a method to restore a rapid heart beat back to normal. It is used in patients who have heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias), which can cause the heart to beat too fast. Cardioversion can be done using electric shock (electric cardioversion) or medications (pharmacologic cardioversion). Learn more.

Carotid Endarterectomy (Carotid Artery Surgery)

Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure to restore adequate blood flow to the brain by removing build up of plaque within the carotid artery. Learn more.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (Heart Bypass Surgery)

This surgery is done to bypass clogged arteries supplying the heart. Typically, doctors will take a vein from the leg and attach one end of it to the coronary artery just below the blockage and attach the other end into an opening made in the aorta. Learn more.

Heart Transplants

A heart transplant is done when congestive heart failure or a heart injury cannot be treated by any other medical or surgical means. It's reserved only for people with a high risk of dying from heart disease within one to two years. Learn more about IU Health's lung and heart transplant program.

Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a device designed to quickly detect a life-threatening, rapid heartbeat coming from the bottom chamber of the heart. It tries to convert an abnormal rhythm back to normal by delivering an electrical shock to the heart. This action is called defibrillation. An ICD can prevent sudden cardiac death. Learn more.

Maze Surgery

Maze surgery treats atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) by rerouting the electrical pulses of the heart through small incisions to the atrium and sewing them back together. This creates what looks like a children’s maze which synchronizes the electrical pulses and helps them trigger evenly. IU Health pioneered a minimally invasive version of this procedure that requires less hospital time for the patient.

Pacemaker Insertion

A pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device that helps the heart beat regularly and at an appropriate rate. The device is implanted under the skin and is attached to the heart with wires called leads. Learn more.

Valve Repair/Replacement

Heart valve surgery is used to repair or replace diseased heart valves. Learn more.

Ventricular Assist Device

A ventricular assist device (VAD) is a pump that helps a failing heart deliver blood to the rest of body. Learn more.