Cardiovascular disease treatment options continue to evolve rapidly, and the physicians at Norton Heart & Vascular Institute are on the leading edge of innovation.

Cardiovascular disease treatment options at Norton Healthcare include novel medical therapies, medications to manage symptoms, minimally invasive procedures and advanced surgical techniques.  

More patients with cardiovascular disease in Louisville and Southern Indiana trust their treatment to Norton Heart & Vascular Institute than to any other health care system.

Our physicians have advanced training and expertise in a full range of treatments.

Our heart care program is built on a legacy of innovation that includes the world’s second artificial heart transplant. Our board-certified and fellowship-trained heart specialists will work with you to build a customized cardiovascular disease treatment plan to get you back to living your life.

Cardiovascular Disease Treatment Innovations

• First in Louisville to implant the Watchman device, which reduces risk of strokes related to atrial fibrillation (A-fib)
• First in the area and one of the largest centers in the country offering hybrid ablation procedure, also known as the convergent procedure, that combines the skills of an electrophysiologist and heart surgeon to treat tissue on the outside and inside the heart
• A community leader in catheter-based procedures through the arm, rather than the groin, to speed recovery and reduce risks
• One of the first in Kentucky to offer transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) — a minimally invasive procedure to replace a narrowed aortic valve
• Recognized as a Center of Excellence by Silk Road Medical, the developers of transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR), which lowers the risk of stroke in patients with carotid artery disease
• American College of Cardiology (ACC) Transcatheter Valve Certification for excellence in performing the TAVR procedure 

Cardiovascular Disease Treatment Options

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with less-invasive endovascular (EVAR) surgery to install a graft and seal off the aneurysm (Traditional open surgery is also available.)
• Aortic aneurysm repair
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair offering both open and a minimally invasive option of endovascular aneurysm repair
• Cardiac catheterization to implant stent, balloon and other devices to restore blood flow through critical vessels
• Catheter ablation — radiofrequency and cryoablation to destroy tissue causing arrhythmia and other heart conditions
• Complex mitral valve repair
• Coronary artery bypass graft — more commonly known as “heart bypass surgery,” an open heart procedure to transplant blood vessels from elsewhere in the body to bypass narrowed or clogged coronary arteries
• Heart transplant access (The Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure & Recovery Program provides access to heart transplant services, including evaluation for the procedure and follow-up care.)
• Hybrid ablation, or convergent procedure
• Implantable defibrillator
• Lung lobectomy and partial lung lobectomies
• Maze procedure, which typically is performed during an open heart procedure to address atrial fibrillation (A-fib)
• Medication management
• Mitral valve treatment using MitraClip, a minimally invasive technique that serves as an alternative to open heart surgery
• Off-pump heart bypass surgery (Innovative surgical techniques allow some heart surgeries to be performed without use of a heart-lung machine. The surgeon using this technique can repair a precise location while allowing the heart to continue beating.)
• Pacemakers
• Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) to treat an aneurysm in the upper part of the aorta
• Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) to lower the risk of stroke in patients with carotid artery disease
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to replace a narrowed aortic valve that fails to open properly
• Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR), a minimally invasive technique to replace the mitral valve that isn’t working properly
• Transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement, an alternative to open heart valve surgery to treat tricuspid valve disease
• Valve repair/replacement
• Ventricular assist device (VAD): implanted pumps designed to relieve much of the burden on a failing heart; can be a treatment in itself or a bridge to a heart transplant
• Watchman FLX implant to close left atrial appendage and reduce stroke risk

About Norton Heart & Vascular Institute

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute offers advanced care at all of our adult-service hospitals to save hearts and lives.

Awards and Accreditations

• All of Norton Healthcare’s adult-service hospitals in Louisville have received Chest Pain Center accreditation from the American College of Cardiology (ACC).
• Norton Audubon Hospital has been named a HeartCare Center National Distinction of Excellence year after year by the American College of Cardiology. This is the only hospital in Louisville to be recognized for this distinction.
• Norton Audubon Hospital, Norton Brownsboro Hospital and Norton Hospital all are recognized as having ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI accreditation.
• Norton Audubon Hospital earned ventricular assist device (VAD) accreditation from DNV and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Leading the Region in Advanced Care

• First in Louisville to implant a dual-chamber leadless pacemaker
• First in Louisville to use PASCAL and MitraClip to replace and repair heart valves
• First health care system in Louisville to offer CathWorks FFRangio System in a minimally invasive procedure used to treat clogged arteries and advance heart disease
• Highest survival rate in the nation for  extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) interventions treating heart failure
• Among the highest survival rates in the nation for treatment of cardiogenic shock in heart failure
• Over 100 transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) procedures performed for heart disease patients
• System with the most facilities across the city of Louisville with the ability treat a life-threatening heart attack
• More than 100 board-certified physicians and advanced practice providers with specialized heart and vascular training and experience at nearly 30 locations in Louisville and Southern Indiana

Comprehensive Heart Care for the Whole Person

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute offers patient resources to support you and your family, including free classes for people of all ages who want to improve cardiovascular health or are living with a heart condition.

• Cardiac rehabilitation: Our cardiac rehabilitation providers are leaders in developing and applying innovative techniques that can help you recover and resume your life.
• Connecting Hearts for Support group: The group provides education and support to individuals who have had a heart attack, are living with a heart condition or are at risk for cardiovascular disease.
• Heart health screenings: Prevention is the best way to manage heart disease, and screenings are available to detect early signs of cardiac and vascular disease and identify risk factors.