Programs and research

Specialty clinics, advanced diagnostics and front-line research for your heart

From precise diagnostic tests and specialty clinics to the latest discoveries in heart care research, our experts are committed to helping you achieve better heart health.

Effective treatment starts with the right test to pinpoint the problem. Tests we offer include: 

  • Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

  • Angiogram/Angiography (arteriogram)

  • Ankle-brachial indices 

  • Cardiac catheterization

  • Cardiac computed tomography angiography 

  • Cardiac MRI

  • Cardiopulmonary metabolic stress testing

  • Carotid doppler

  • ECG/Cardiac Event/Holter monitoring

  • Echocardiogram

  • Electrophysiology studies

  • Exercise stress testing

  • Nuclear stress testing

  • Pulmonary function test 

  • Vascular ultrasound

After diagnostic testing, our heart team will tailor your treatment plan to your unique needs and heart condition.

We have many specialty clinics and programs for patients with particular heart and vascular conditions, giving you the care and support you need.

At UW Health, we provide a full range of services for conditions affecting your heart and circulatory system (blood vessels), including expert preventive care and innovative treatments.

Note: Not all services are available at all locations.

Research and clinical trials offer hope to many who live with heart conditions. Our experts use cutting-edge research techniques to evaluate new diagnostic tests and treatments for your heart.

Our providers based in Madison are faculty at the University of Wisconsin and recognized nationally for their work with stem cells, which can help regenerate tissues and organs so they work better. Our early research shows stem cell therapy might help treat heart attacks and heart failure.

We're committed to helping you live longer and more healthfully.

Learn how to take part in a clinical trial

Among the nation's best

Our congenital heart surgery program based in Madison received the highest rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. This means our outcomes are better than expected based on the complexity we encounter, and some of the best in the country.

Conditions and treatments

Care and treatment for almost any type of heart or vascular condition

Our team diagnoses, monitors and manages all types of heart disease. In a heart emergency, you can be confident you’ll get the best possible care with us. University Hospital in Madison is ranked among the nation’s top heart hospitals.

Conditions we treat

Heart disease can be present at birth or develop later in life. It can cause many different symptoms and health problems. At UW Health, we provide expert treatment for all types of heart and vascular disorders.

Heart conditions we treat include:

  • Aortic valve disease (aortic regurgitation and aortic stenosis) 

  • Atrial fibrillation 

  • Atrial septal defect 

  • Bicuspid aortic valve 

  • Blocked arteries (atherosclerosis)

  • Cardiac complications from cancer treatment 

  • Compartment syndrome

  • Coronary artery disease

  • Endocarditis 

  • Fainting/falling 

  • Fast heart rate (supraventricular tachycardia)

  • Heart attack (acute myocardial infarction) 

  • Heart failure (cardiomyopathy) 

  • Heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias)

  • Long QT syndrome (inherited arrhythmias) 

  • Marfan Syndrome 

  • Mitral valve disease (mitral regurgitation and mitral stenosis) 

  • Mitral valve prolapse 

  • Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return 

  • Patent foramen ovale 

  • Pulmonary valve insufficiency 

  • Pulmonary valve stenosis

  • Slow heart rate (bradyarrhythmia) 

  • Sudden cardiac death (ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation) 

  • Tricuspid valve disease (tricuspid regurgitation and tricuspid stenosis) 

  • Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome

Conditions affecting veins and arteries that we treat include: 

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm 

  • Aortic aneurysm 

  • Aortic aneurysm dissection 

  • Aortic valve disease (aortic regurgitation and aortic stenosis) 

  • Arterial disease of the arms and legs (peripheral vascular disease) 

  • Carotid artery disease 

  • Coarctation of the aorta 

  • Compartment syndrome (chronic) 

  • High blood pressure (hypertension)

  • Renal artery disease 

  • Thoracic aortic aneurysm / Thoraco-abdominal aneurysm 

  • Varicose veins 

  • Vascular disease (arterial and venous)

Health and healing for your heart

Some heart or vascular conditions can be treated by medication alone. For others, surgery, a special device or a minimally invasive procedure may be necessary. Treatments we offer include:

  • Ablation

    • Radiofrequency ablation

    • Cryoablation

  • Amputation

  • Angioplasty

  • Aortic valve-sparing surgery

  • Atrial septal defect repair

  • Cardiac rehabilitation

  • Cardiac resynchronization therapy 

  • Cardioversion

  • Carotid artery stent

  • Carotid and peripheral blood vessel revascularization

  • Carotid surgery and intervention

  • Endoscopic surveillance

    • Regular

    • Fluorescence

  • Endovascular aneurysm repair with fenestrated endograft stent

  • Heart bypass (coronary artery bypass graft surgery)

  • Heart transplant

  • Implantable cardioverter defibrillators

  • In situ vein bypass for limb salvage

  • Laser lead extraction

  • Left atrial appendage closure (Watchman implant)

  • LVAD (Left ventricular assist devices) 

  • Limb salvage

  • Maze procedure (surgical)

  • Mitral valve surgery

  • Mitraclip

  • Pacemakers

  • Photodynamic therapy

  • Renal stenting

  • Robotic thymectomy

  • Stents (drug-eluting stents)

  • Surgical ventricular remodeling

  • TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement)

  • Thoracic aortic aneurysm repair (endovascular graft)

  • Thoracic aortic aneurysm repair (open surgical)

  • Total artificial heart

  • Transmyocardial laser revascularization 

  • Valve repair or replacement surgery (minimally invasive)

  • Varicose vein therapy (minimally invasive)

  • Vena cava filter

If you’ve been told your treatment options are limited or you require complex surgery, consider our Second Opinion Program. With our large team of specialists and many resources, we offer nearly every procedure available. We’ll make sure you know about all your possibilities.

Locations

Heart care clinics close to home

Our clinics and specialty programs are located in Madison and Rockford, and throughout the region.

Meet our team

Your heart, our team

Heart care is a team effort. At UW Health, our heart specialists bring unique knowledge, skills and experience to provide you the best care possible.

Our team includes cardiologists, as well as cardiac and vascular surgeons. Physician assistants, nurse practitioners and nurse coordinators are among the professionals who might be part of your care team. We bring in others, such as health psychologists, nutritionists and exercise physiologists, as needed.

Our team diagnoses, monitors and manages all types of heart disease. In a heart emergency, you can be confident you’ll get the best possible care with us. University Hospital in Madison is ranked among the nation’s top heart hospitals.

Cardiothoracic surgery
Cardiovascular medicine
Vascular surgery

Patient stories

Hear directly from UW Health heart care patients

Our patients are our priority. Learn more about heart care treatment at UW Health from people who have experienced that care first-hand.

Through treatment and beyond, UW Health is here for you

At the age of 36, Joe had a heart attack. He had emergency treatment at UW Health. That treatment and the support he received through our cardiac rehabilitation program gave him a new lease on life.

Watch Joe's story
A closeup of a family's hands holding a ceramic heart
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