Cardiology

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) occurs when plaque (made of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances) builds up in the arteries. Over time this narrows the arteries, limiting the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs and other parts of your body like legs, feet and arms.

Major risk factors for PAD are smoking, age and having certain diseases and conditions, including heart disease. It’s twice as common in African Americans as in Caucasians.

Carilion Clinic is a leader in providing new and innovative cardiac therapies.

Our Center for Atrial Fibrillation provides world class care in catheter-based interventional ablation for patients with atrial fibrillation. Carilion is the only hospital in western Virginia where patients can have the minimally invasive MAZE heart procedure to treat atrial fibrillation as well. This new approach, not widely available elsewhere, builds upon earlier but less effective surgical treatments for patients with atrial fibrillation who are otherwise healthy.

Located across western Virginia, Carilion Clinic is proud to offer a new treatment for patients with severe heart failure, a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD), called the HeartMate II by Thoratec.

What is LVAD?

LVAD stands for Left Ventricular Assist Device, a mechanical device that circulates blood throughout the body when the heart is too weak to pump blood on its own. It is sometimes called a “heart pump” or “VAD.” The device can help improve overall organ function, allowing patients to breathe more easily and feel less tired.

At the Carilion Clinic Heart Failure Clinic we provide compassionate, comprehensive outpatient treatment for people with heart failure. With three convenient locations in Roanoke, New River Valley and Lexington, Virginia, we’re here to help you to maximize the quality of your life and stay as healthy as possible. We provide a supportive atmosphere for you and your family to learn about your condition with the goal of helping you to avoid a visit to the emergency department or hospital admission.

The Carilion Clinic Surgical Valve Program specializes in the surgical treatment of heart valve disease. Our highly experienced cardiac surgeons excel at using both traditional open and innovative minimally invasive surgical techniques for the repair and replacement of diseased or defective aortic and mitral valves.

We offer a full range of surgical approaches including: