This new branch of Baptist's nationally recognized cardiac program treats vascular disease from head to toe. The Vascular Center at the Baptist Heart Institute offers advanced treatment for patients with heart diseases or peripheral vascular diseases. Peripheral vascular diseases refer to blockages in arteries of the brain, kidneys and legs. These diseases can lead to stroke, hypertension and severe leg pain.

Examples of just a few of the types of conditions treated include:

The highly trained multidisciplinary team includes interventional cardiologists, interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons and neurologists,  nurses and technologists. This team diagnoses and treats all aspects of the patients' disease. Many treatments can be used to improve blood flow through the arteries. The latest interventions for treating vascular diseases are available through The Vascular Center and can bring immediate relief and are more cost effective than surgery. Devices used for intervention include balloon catheters, stents, atherectomy and lasers. All these alternatives treat blockage by either removing it, compressing it or displacing it. If the blockage is resistant to these interventions, surgery may be considered to bypass the problem.

Clinical research is a major component of the The Vascular Center. The clinical trials utilize patients who volunteer to receive investigational treatments, all under close supervision of a physician, nurses and other specially trained staff. The research staff is performing groundbreaking procedures such as carotid artery stenting for high-risk surgical patients and medication patients more alternatives than conventional medical care. The studies provide important information necessary in the development of new medical and interventional therapies for treating life threatening and chronic diseases.

For information, you can contact the Baptist Heart Institute at 632-5882.