Heart & Vascular Institute

At the Heart & Vascular Institute, we care for patients with a wide range of cardiovascular conditions, including:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm — swelling in the aorta, one of the body’s major arteries
• Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), including atrial fibrillation
• Cardiogenic shock — a medical emergency due to insufficient blood flow to the brain and organs
• Chronic total occlusion — complete blockage of an artery in the heart
• Congenital heart disease — structural heart abnormalities that are present at birth
• Coronary artery disease
• Critical limb ischemia — significant blockages in arteries outside the heart
• Heart disease and stroke risk factors, including hypertension (high blood pressure) and unhealthy cholesterol levels
• Heart failure
• Peripheral vascular disease (peripheral artery disease) — narrowing of blood vessels outside the heart, often in the legs
• Pulmonary hypertension — high blood pressure affecting the lungs
• Restenosis — narrowing of a heart artery previously treated with angioplasty or stenting
• Structural heart disease, including diseases of the heart valves

To develop an effective treatment plan, we need an accurate diagnosis. That’s why we offer a variety of noninvasive diagnostic options, including:

• Cardiac catheterization

• Cardiac CT

• Cardiac MRI

• Echocardiogram

• Electrocardiogram

• Holter monitoring

• Nuclear stress testing (positron emission tomography testing)

From medications and minimally invasive procedures to complex surgery, our team offers the full range of treatments and services for cardiovascular disease, including:

• Cardiac rehabilitation

• Cardiothoracic surgery

• Heart failure management

• Heart transplants

• Interventional cardiology, including angioplasty, stenting and other nonsurgical treatments

• Management of high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels

• Mechanical circulatory support devices, which help the heart function for patients awaiting a heart transplant or those who aren’t eligible for one

• Medication therapy for cardiac amyloidosis, an accumulation of abnormal proteins in the heart

• Pediatric cardiology and pediatric heart transplant

• Percutaneous coronary intervention, a type of stenting, for chronic total occlusion

• Procedures to treat aortic disease
• RADIANCE Clinical Trial Program

• Treatment for arrhythmias, including medications, implantable devices and surgery

• Treatment for congenital heart disease in adults and children, including cardiac catheterization and surgery

• Valve disease care, including a variety of surgical and minimally invasive treatments

• Vascular and endovascular surgery

• Vascular medicine

Ochsner's consultative cardiology team is led by experienced, highly trained cardiologists, all with a wealth of experience second to none in the region. They use their knowledge and expertise to provide comprehensive cardiovascular services. The consultative cardiology team at Ochsner:

• Works closely with each patient's referring physician to devise an individual care plan

• Coordinates with Ochsner sub specialists to provide world-class care for complex cases

• Offers second opinions to both self-referred and physician-referred patients

• Manages the day-to-day aspects of heart disease

• Provides preoperative cardiac assessment for organ transplant patients

• Consults with oncology specialists in Ochsner's Cardio-Oncology Clinic to prevent and minimize cardiovascular issues that arise from cancer treatment

Consultative cardiologists frequently treat patients with:

• Coronary heart disease (atherosclerosis)

• Congestive heart failure

• Hyperlipidemia (elevated cholesterol)

• Hypertension

• Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats and rapid heartbeats)

• Peripheral vascular disease (leg pain with walking)

• Valvular heart disease

Consultative cardiology is a key component of the Ochsner Hypertension Digital Medicine Program. Patients with complicated and hard-to-treat hypertension often find the solutions they seek at Ochsner. This program utilizes advanced wireless technology to help patients manage and treat high blood pressure.

The most effective cardiovascular care requires the input of a variety of specialists and subspecialists to develop a personalized treatment plan for each patient. That’s why multidisciplinary care is a hallmark of the Heart & Vascular Institute. Our clinicians collaborate at every stage of care, from prevention or maintenance of heart disease to complex cases requiring surgery.

Multidisciplinary care takes a variety of forms. These include dedicated clinics, such as the Women’s Heart Clinic and Cardio-Oncology Clinic, where multispecialty care often plays a key role. In addition, the Heart & Vascular Institute team holds regular multidisciplinary conferences that bring together all specialists and subspecialists to discuss patient cases.

For many patients with heart disease, care often begins by seeing one of our consultative clinical cardiologists. These clinicians take a leading role in patient care by coordinating care plans with referring physicians, managing heart disease and referring to subspecialists, when appropriate.

The Heart & Vascular Institute offers cardiovascular care to serve Louisiana and Mississippi, including in New Orleans, Shreveport, Lafayette and Baton Rouge. Find a location near you.

Our depth of experience and expertise make the Heart & Vascular Institute a leading destination for cardiovascular care, including heart transplants. We’re one of a small number of institutions in the U.S. to have performed more than 1,000 transplants. In addition, we’ve performed more than 2,000 transcatheter aortic valve replacements, and we have the region’s largest comprehensive center for management of arrhythmias.

National organizations have taken note of our high-quality cardiovascular care. U.S. News & World Report named Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans a High-Performing Hospital for 2022-2023 in abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, aortic valve surgery, heart failure, heart attack, stroke and transcatheter aortic valve replacement. The American College of Cardiology awarded the Heart & Vascular Institute its Transcatheter Valve Certification and Electrophysiology Accreditation.

Cardiovascular virtual visits are available when an in-person visit is not necessary.

Cardiologists diagnose and treat conditions that affect the heart. Vascular physicians diagnose and treat conditions of the blood vessels outside the heart.

Cardiologists can recommend a variety of healthy lifestyle changes, including quitting smoking, following a heart-healthy eating plan, increasing physical activity, and getting to and maintaining a healthy weight. For some people, blood pressure medication may be necessary to supplement healthy lifestyle changes. Cardiologists can prescribe a variety of medicines to help treat high blood pressure.