Congenital Heart Center

Children's Hospital of Illinois' cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons provide a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for all patients with congenital pediatric heart disease. Through the Children's Heart Institute, the first congenital heart defect repair in Peoria was performed in 1972. Children's Hospital of Illinois has long been a regional leader in cardiac services, due to cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, and hospital services.  With the growth of the Department of Pediatrics to more than 100 specialists, we offer unparalleled care to our patients with heart disease.

Our eight board-certified pediatric cardiologists see approximately 4,000 infants and children each year. Our two pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons perform approximately 250 surgeries on infants as young as a few hours to adults with congenital heart defects.  This is achieved with a dedicated team of cardiac anesthesiologists, pediatric perfusionists and OR nurses with the experience and expertise for management of patients with the most complex congenital heart problems.  All of the patients who undergo cardiac surgery are cared for in our Cardiac Intensive Care Unit under the collaborative care of the cardiovascular intensivist, the cardiovascular surgeon, the cardiologist, and the cardiac pediatric nurse practitioners.

Due to major advances in pediatric cardiac surgery over the past decade, there is a growing population of adolescents and adults with congenital problems that often require lifelong follow-up. Their age, as well as other issues related to the impact of their cardiac conditions, set this group apart from younger children with heart disease. For this reason, we have established an adolescent and adult congenital heart clinic.

Our cardiologists see patients in Peoria, as well as the following outreach locations as a service for our patients to minimize their travel needs.  We provide comprehensive outpatient evaluations at all of these locations:

• Bloomington
• Decatur - Being Re-established
• Ottawa
• Rock Island
• Spring Valley 
• Urbana (Provena Covenant Medical Center)

In addition, we have the ability to tele-transfer electrocardiograms, holter monitor results and echocardiograms from more than 15 regional hospitals for prompt interpretation and consultation to the local physicians.

We are the regional center of excellence for the care of all children and adults with congenital heart disease, and we strive to provide that care with unsurpassed quality and compassion.

We offer both inpatient and outpatient diagnostic and treatment services such as the following:

• Diagnostic cardiac catheterizations
• Interventional cardiac catheterizations, which include:
  • ASD creation and closure
  • PFO closures in stroke patients
  • Balloon valvuloplasty of aortic and pulmonary valves
  • Balloon angioplasty
  • Percutaneous stent placement
  • Percutaneous closure of PDA's and unwanted vessels
  • Complete Electrophysiologic studies
  • Interventional ablative  therapies for fast heart rhythm problems
• Non-invasive diagnostic tests, including:
• • Echocardiography (including fetal & transesophogeal)
  • Electrocardiograms
  • Exercise stress test
  • Holter monitoring and event recording
  • Magnetic resonance imaging, including MR angiography
  • Tilt table test
• Pacemaker and internal defibrillator implants and management

In an effort to provide comprehensive services to the patient and his/her family, The Organization for Understanding Children's Hearts (TOUCH), a support group was formed.  See "Support Groups" section for more information. 

For more information regarding Cardiac Services, contact the OSF services line at (888) 627-5673.

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