Ascension Borgess-Lee Hospital - Cardiology

When you choose Ascension Borgess-Lee Hospital for your heart and vascular care, you get an entire team trained to deliver the latest in therapeutics and surgery to help prevent, diagnose, manage, and treat heart and vascular diseases. At Ascension Borgess, our nationally recognized heart program is the leader in southwest Michigan in minimally invasive valve procedures. Starting with your first consultation, your doctor listens to understand you and your health concerns. Then, we work with you to create a heart care plan that’s right for you. 

Our highly experienced cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and care teams specialize in delivering advanced care for managing and treating damage to the heart, coronary arteries and other heart and vascular conditions. Some of our cardiologists are also interventional cardiologists and perform minimally invasive heart procedures such as angioplasty and stent placement to open clogged arteries. Multidisciplinary care includes:

• Atrial fibrillation (AFib) and other heart rhythm disorders
• Congestive heart failure
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attack
• Heart valve and structural heart disease
• High blood pressure and high cholesterol

Advanced heart valve care

Heart and vascular specialists at the Ascension Borgess Heart Institute provide convenient access to any lab tests, diagnostic cardiac imaging and procedures you may need. Our nationally recognized heart program is the leader throughout Michigan in minimally invasive valve procedures. Ascension Borgess has been recognized by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for patient care and outcomes. US News and World Report Adult Specialty Rankings, Fortune/IBM Watson Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals, as well as other nationally recognized heart care rating organizations. (These are the most recent awards.)

We are part of a national heart care team of specialists sharing best practices, research, and the latest in cardiovascular therapeutics and surgical care – bringing the best of heart care to you. Advanced structural heart and valve procedures include:

• Mitraclip™ valve repair
• Patent foramen ovale and ASD closure
• Pulmonary and tricuspid valve care
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
• Transcatheter mitral valve repair
• Endovascular and thoracic repairs of aortic aneurysms (EVAR, TEVAR)

Specialty care for AFib and other types of heart disease

Cardiologists provide specialty care for arrhythmia and other heart rhythm disorders. We focus on helping you reduce your risk for stroke and heart attack. A common type of arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib. Having AFib increases your risk for a stroke or transient ischemic attack (a TIA or mini-stroke). If you have AFib, your doctor may evaluate you for the Watchman™ device. This procedure offers an alternative to the lifelong use of warfarin for people with AFib not caused by heart valve problems. Your doctor and care team provide comprehensive care, including:

• Nonsurgical treatments: medication, cardioversion and pacemaker
• Procedural treatment: left atrial catheter ablation, cryoablation, radiofrequency catheter ablation and Watchman 
• Surgical treatments: Maze surgery and surgical AFib ablation

Heart attack and stroke care and prevention

If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, irregular heartbeat or other risk factors for heart disease, your doctor works with you to prevent heart attack and stroke. Some heart attacks begin suddenly, while others start with mild discomfort. Watch for these symptoms of heart attack in both men and women:

• Chest discomfort, pressure, or pain
• Difficulty breathing independent of activity
• Lightheadedness or loss of consciousness
• New weakness or fatigue
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Sudden pain in arm (particularly left arm), jaw, neck, or back

Go to the ER right away if you notice these symptoms in yourself or a loved one. Ascension Borgess-Lee Hospital has an ER open 24/7 for life-threatening emergencies like heart attack. And if you need more care, you’ll be connected to an experienced heart care team.

If you are experiencing chest pain, especially in combination with jaw or arm pain, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, or difficulty breathing, you might be having a heart attack. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Supporting your heart care recovery

Whenever possible, your heart surgeon or interventional cardiologist uses minimally invasive techniques and image-guided technology to deliver advanced treatments and procedures to help shorten your recovery. Sometimes your doctor may recommend an overnight stay in the hospital after surgery for additional monitoring and care. And if you need cardiac intensive care, we provide that, too, at Ascension Michigan sites of care. With Ascension Borgess-Lee Hospital, you are connected to the care you need through recovery:

• Cardiac rehabilitation
• Heart nutrition counseling 
• Medication anticoagulation management
• Transitional care, bridging next steps once home

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