Children’s Hospital of Illinois’ cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons provide a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for pediatric patients with congenital or acquired heart disease. Through the Children’s Heart Institute, the first congenital heart defect repair performed in Peoria was in 1972. Children’s Hospital of Illinois has long been a regional leader in cardiac services, due to a solid partnership with cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, and hospital services.

Our 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. All of the patients who undergo cardiac surgery are cared for in our 12-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit under the collaborative direction of the cardiovascular intensivist, the cardiovascular surgeon, and the cardiologist. 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 locations:

• Bloomington
• Bettendorf
• Danville
• Decatur
• Macomb
• Mattoon
• Ottawa
• Peru
• Pontiac
• Princeton
• Quincy
• Rock Island
• Springfield
• Urbana (Carle Foundation Hospital & Provena Covenant Medical Center)

In addition, we have the ability to tele-transfer echocardiograms from regional hospitals for prompt interpretation.

Our goal is to be the regional center of excellence for the care of all children and their families with heart disease, as well as adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease, and 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
• 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 evaluations

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 1 (888) 627-5673.

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