Open-heart Surgery Should Remain Viable Treatment Option For People In Their 80s, According To Experts Oct 31, 2008
30, 2008) Patients 80 years and older who are in overall good health are perfectly able to withstand open-heart surgery, according to the latest study of Dr. Kevin Lachapelle of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) ... This study conclusion is based on the follow-up of 185 patients who underwent open-heart surgery at the MUHC for a cardiac valve replacement ... 20, 2006) For years, the standard of care for mitral valve leakage has been open-heart surgery with the patient on a bypass... (Science Daily)
Officers add 911 call details Oct 29, 2008
So it was both humbling and ironic a year ago when, on the eve of training camp, doctors informed the Washington Wizards center that he needed open-heart surgery. As soon as possible. (News & Observer -- Sports)
Ex-patient sues Saint Agnes, surgeon after heart surgery Oct 22, 2008
According to court documents, Pio Contreras had open-heart surgery at Saint Agnes "on or about July 23, 2007." The lawsuit alleges the hospital and surgeon, Clifford Wallace -- who Moeck said also goes by the name Douglas Wallace -- were negligent and failed to properly treat Contreras. Wallace's middle initial is C, according to the California Medical Board. (Fresno Bee)
Heart device firm Myocor selling assets Oct 22, 2008
That device is less invasive than the original product, not requiring open-heart surgery. The firm is now selling assets ranging from patents to product inventory and equipment. (Twin Cities Business Journal, MN)
Advice from the Top: Get ready for those tough calls, ump says Oct 20, 2008
Underwent open-heart surgery in May. Was back on the field Aug. 1. (USA Today -- Money)
Novel Imaging Approach May Assist In Predicting Success Of Treatment For Atrial Fibrillation Oct 16, 2008
Researchers have developed a method to quiet atrial fibrillations without having to perform open-heart surgery. In a technique called Mini-Maze. (Science Daily)
Tragic illness couldn't take away a Metairie boy's childhood, but a tragic accident took his life Oct 13, 2008
For nearly three years, little Owen Bushland bravely battled a myriad of congenital heart defects -- ailments that required open-heart surgery, the insertion of a pacemaker, a tracheostomy and dependence on a ventilator. Through it all, his mother, Leah Bushland never once asked "Why?". (Nola.com -- Sports)
Implantable Device May Help Manage Congestive Heart Failure Symptoms Oct 12, 2008
This may eliminate the need for open-heart surgery and general anesthesia and may also allow for faster recovery times. Congestive heart failure affects approximately 5. (Science Daily)
Surgery at PGI opens new chapter Oct 12, 2008
CHANDIGARH: After having successfully performed an open-heart surgery on a three-week-old girl child, PGI has joined the league of only three others in the country which carry out such a delicate procedure on newborns AIIMS, New Delhi, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kerala and Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bangalore ... "After the required tests, we decided on an open-heart surgery. Generally, weve been doing closed-heart surgery which requires a different kind of... (Times of India)
Queen for a day: Mom gets star treatment in Main Street makeover writeLink("vid_id=1258&file=makeover101108.flv"); Oct 11, 2008
"We spent the week in Iowa City, and that is when they told us he would need open-heart surgery to replace a valve." ... Just as Matthew was preparing for his last open-heart surgery nearly one year ago --- his body rejects the new valves after about a year and a half --- Owens found a lump on her left breast. (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)
Outside looking in Oct 5, 2008
That Monday, Arora called the Atkinsons and asked them to come to his office to discuss this alternative to open-heart surgery. The couple canceled the bypass, deciding that cardiac angioplasty was a better choice. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Business)
Prosthetic Vein Valve Designed To Direct Blood Flow Shows Promising Pre-clinical Results Sep 21, 2008
20, 2006) For years, the standard of care for mitral valve leakage has been open-heart surgery with the patient on a bypass machine. Now, heart patients at the UVa Health System have a new, less invasive. (Science Daily)
Report: Pa. bypass surgery deaths down in 2006 Sep 18, 2008
The council also noted a drop in the average number of open-heart surgery cases per surgeon and per hospital. Medicare payments for a hospital stay averaged $30,423 for bypass patients, $42,128 for patients who had heart-valve surgery and $45,620 for patients who had both procedures. (Carlisle Sentinel, PA)
Newswatch, Police/Fire Sep 18, 2008
Big Island Mayor Harry Kim's recovery from open-heart surgery is going well enough that he has been moved from an intensive care unit at the Queen's Medical Center to a less-intensive cardiac unit, his office announced. Kim suffered his third heart attack in three years Thursday and underwent surgery on Sunday. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
Taking back-to-school to heart Sep 16, 2008
This challenge is even greater for those born with a congenital heart malformation and who underwent open-heart surgery soon after birth ... A careful assessment before surgery revealed nervous system anomalies in more than 50% of the newborns who were to have open-heart surgery soon after birth, as well as in over a third of the infants who were to have it a bit later in life. (EurekAlert!)
The heart of the matter: job satisfaction Sep 15, 2008
He had a heart attack, followed by open-heart surgery in September. It was a triple bypass. (Albany Times Union)
How to choose a cardiac rehab center Sep 15, 2008
Choosing a rehab center was more than an academic exercise for Ned Barnett, a marketing and public relations executive with the who recently had open-heart surgery and a month-long course of rehabilitation. He said choosing a center that is covered by health insurance is important because the added stress of figuring out how to pay for rehab won't aid the healing process. (South Florida Business Journal, FL)
Putting their hearts, legs into a cause Sep 14, 2008
Doctors told the 2006 open-heart surgery patient that physical fitness needs to become a way of life - or life might end sooner than she would like. That's why she put on her walking shoes. (Florida Times-Union)
Quiet rookie Lowery makes noise on field for Jets Sep 13, 2008
She had open-heart surgery before she was a year old, but grew healthy and strong, with Lowery, somewhat reluctantly at first, as a father figure. "I haven't seen her in a long time -- it's the longest I've gone without seeing her," Lowery said. (WSVN-TV Miami, FL)
From Wine to New Drugs: A Novel Way to Reduce Damage from Heart Attacks Sep 12, 2008
Even in the case of open-heart surgery, where aldA1 could presumably help the heart recover from a temporary cessation of blood flow, the amount of heart damage is so minimal with current technologies that aldA1 may not make a significant biological contribution, he adds. however, may be an area in which the current form of aldA1 could make a significant contribution, Mochly-Rosen contends. (Scientific American)
Infectious Heart Disease Death Rates Rising Again, Say Scientists Sep 12, 2008
It was first identified in the nineteenth century and has changed beyond all recognition due to evolution of the disease itself and developments in modern healthcare such as open-heart surgery, antibiotics and new medical imaging techniques. "In spite of these medical advances, infective endocarditis is still evolving and we are seeing new patterns of the disease and its complications. Despite all our improvements in health care, the death rate has been virtually unchanged for the last 20 years,... (Science Daily)
Inn manager saves drowning girl, 14 Sep 10, 2008
"She had open-heart surgery when she was 8 years old," her mother said. Tasia was born with a double outlet of her right ventricle and gets yearly checkups for her condition, but otherwise is fine, Holmes said. (The News-Herald)
KOREAN CONUNDRUM: WHAT IF KIM'S KAPUT? Sep 10, 2008
Intelligence agencies have speculated that Kim may suffer from diabetes and heart disease - and might even have had open-heart surgery at some point. He was a drinker and smoker, but some believe he's sworn off those habits. (New York Post -- Opinions)
From coma to comeback Sep 10, 2008
" There is, of course, some guarded pessimism. Paula doesn't think Robert plays with a fear of recurring problems, but, as a mom, she has occasional worries. And though doctors said Robert's heart condition wasn't related to his father's heart problems, two respiratory problems occurring in the same family always raises a red flag. Brothers, 17, meets with his cardiologist, Dr. Lon Keith, on a monthly basis as well as anytime he feels pain in his chest. Keith performed Brothers' open-heart... (Prep Sports Sports -- Rivals.com)
> Deborah fears loss of heart patients would imperil future Sep 5, 2008
The Burlington County hospital is again at odds with the New Jersey Health Department over the state s efforts to allow hospitals to participate in a demonstration project evaluating the safety of performing elective angioplasty procedures at a facility not equipped for open-heart surgery ... There are 18 hospitals scattered around the state that provide elective angioplasty [and have on-site open-heart surgery programs ... Last year, Community Medical Center part of the performed 125 emergency... (Philadelphia Business Journal, PA)
Reality shows we'd like to see Sep 5, 2008
So here's the deal: Two men from contrasting economic backgrounds compete to see who can best perform open-heart surgery (or spleen removal) on his wife. This heart-stopping (wink. (Salon)
SCAI: SYNTAX Data Show PCI Is a Good Option for Patients With Complex Coronary Artery Disease Sep 2, 2008
One-Year Data Find Angioplasty and Stenting Safe and Effective in Patients for Whom Standard Therapy Has Been Open-Heart Surgery WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Data announced today from the landmark SYNTAX trial indicate that patients with very complex coronary artery disease can safely choose to be treated with angioplasty and drug-eluting stents rather than open-heart surgery, says The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI). The one-year results of SYNTAX also... (PR Newswire)
SCAI: CARDia Data Find Diabetic Patients With Complex Heart Disease Can Safely Choose PCI Sep 2, 2008
The one-year findings of the new study indicate that these patients can safely choose to undergo angioplasty and stenting rather than open-heart surgery. At the European Society of Cardiology Congress (Munich, Germany), investigators from the United Kingdom presented the results of CARDia (Coronary Artery Revascularization in Diabetes), a clinical trial comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) vs. open-heart surgery in patients typically considered to be poor candidates for angioplasty... (PR Newswire)
Weathering Storms - And Healing - In NoLa Sep 2, 2008
At New Orleans Childrens Hospital, Tracey Bayley's son, Cameron, had 00003FE1 open-heart surgery last Wednesday ... Bayley's son, Cameron, had open-heart surgery last Wednesday. (CBS News)
POLITICO: New Palin details may help, not hurt... Sep 2, 2008
" McCain's campaign says it's not worried about the investigation. "The bottom line is Governor Palin has a proven record championing transparency in government and we are confident in that record," said McCain spokeswoman Maria Comella. Yeah Right, Transparency in Government. So that's what you call it. Party: Independent Reply #3 Date: Sep. 1, 2008 - 7:16 PM EST Wow, Senator Obama's great political fortunes return as once again during this election he is blessed by an opponent who turns out to... (The Drudge Report)
UPDATE 1-Heart bypasses beat drug stents in Sep 2, 2008
CABG requires open-heart surgery. In recent years stenting has become increasingly popular. (Hemscott)
Heart bypass better than stents, study finds Sep 2, 2008
In the study results announced Monday, European doctors compared the effectiveness of open-heart surgery with angioplasty in a trial of more than 3,000 patients in Europe and the United States ... Patients typically need at least a month to fully recover from an open-heart surgery, a five-hour operation under general anesthesia. (Globe and Mail)
Survivor throws party - all are invited Aug 30, 2008
Havlicek underwent the open-heart surgery in May 2007. During his hospital stay, mates from his previous band decided to have a recovery party for him. (New Britain Herald, CT)
Cardiac surgeon to leave hospital Aug 29, 2008
After the state reopened the program, the hospital board of trustees shut the open-heart surgery program in June for almost a month until outside auditors cleared it to reopen in mid- July. Saint Agnes outlined corrective steps in a plan sent to the state in July. (Fresno Bee)
O's Roberts gears up for Baseball Bash Aug 27, 2008
08/26/2008 8:06 PM ET Roberts gears up for Baseball Bash O's second baseman hosts precursor to Sept. 14 charity event By Amanda Comak / MLB.com. Markakis' RBI double. (MLB.com -- Baltimore Orioles)
Football: Seminole sophomore overcomes heart ailment to get his kicks Aug 27, 2008
The donor valve will not grow as Layton does, so he is going to need another open-heart surgery. The doctors had said it would happen late in his junior high or early in his high school years, but a checkup last Valentine's Day put Layton in the clear this year. (Odessa American, TX)
BUSINESS WATCH: His heart still beats for Center Aug 25, 2008
Otherwise, open-heart surgery was the preferred procedure. "With changes in technology, angioplasty is now by and large the preferred treatment for coronary heart disease, and surgery is a backup," Ritz said. (Republican-American)
Adena's goal: Keep patients home Aug 23, 2008
The Chillicothe system has seen a 34 percent increase in revenue since 2005, when former executive Mark Shuter became president and CEO. Since then it has added open-heart surgery and recruited more specialists, many from Columbus, in areas including heart disease, cancer, neurology and bone and joint care ... Columbus executives said they expected the decrease as they encouraged Adena s growth Mount Carmel trained Adena nurses and staff for open-heart surgery and OhioHealth recently signed a... (Columbus Business First, OH)
Dee battling back from open-heart surgery Aug 23, 2008
CORAL GABLES - Former UM athletic director Paul Dee said he may not be able to attend Thursday s season-opener at Dolphin Stadium after undergoing open-heart surgery in mid-July ... It just came time that the valve was failing and they needed to replace it and that requires open-heart surgery, said Dee, who underwent the procedure on July 17. (The Palm Beach Post)
COLUMN: Give me a slow-moving sign and a tractor any day over city craziness Aug 21, 2008
Get in some city traffic and it just seems that everyone is barreling forward at 110 miles per hour, apparently 10 minutes late for something absolutely vital like their own open-heart surgery. It s always rush, rush, rush no courtesy when driving, no politeness of letting someone in the line of traffic in front of you. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Poet who gave identity to Palestinians dies Aug 13, 2008
Darwish died in Houston, Texas, after having open-heart surgery ... The predominant Palestinian poet, whose work has been translated into more than 20 languages and won numerous international awards, died after open-heart surgery at a Houston hospital, said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (CNN -- World)
Palestinians mourn national poet Aug 10, 2008
In a televised address after Darwish died on Saturday in a US hospital from complications following open-heart surgery, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas declared three days of official mourning. "How much does it pain my heart and my soul to announce to the Palestinian people, the Arab and Islamic world, and to everyone who loves peace and freedom, the passing of the star of Palestine," Abbas said. (Yahoo! Asia News)
Pa. court: Nurse can be fired for sex with patient Aug 8, 2008
You don t have sex with your patients after they ve had open-heart surgery, said her lawyer, Joseph M. Fioravanti. That s what this is all about. (Somerset Daily American, PA)
How I survived Aug 5, 2008
That scared me because after my dad had his angioplasty, he had to have open-heart surgery. I didn't want that. (CNN)
Rare surgical procedure saves baby Jul 29, 2008
They had to fly there after doctors at Kapiolani discovered in a fetal echocardiogram that their baby's blood vessels were reversed to the heart, requiring special open-heart surgery ... "They had to do open-heart surgery for the baby, and it was really scary for me and my husband," said the new mother ... Newborn open-heart surgery is not done at Kapiolani, so the doctors recommended that Piotrowski deliver on the mainland, he said. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
Hospital tries to win back patients Jul 26, 2008
It has been more than a week since Saint Agnes Medical Center resumed open-heart surgery after patient infection problems caused a shutdown of the program -- and business isn't what it used to be ... Kaiser patients made up the majority of the open-heart surgery patients at Saint Agnes ... Tripuraneni said Kaiser open-heart surgery patients won't be sent back to Saint Agnes "until our own review determines that the facility and physicians are providing the highest-quality care."Saint Agnes... (Fresno Bee -- Local)
Ex-Mizzou coach Stewart undergoes heart surgery Jul 24, 2008
-- Former Missouri basketball coach Norm Stewart is recovering from open-heart surgery. University officials said the 73-year-old Stewart had an aortic valve replacement on Friday. (ESPN -- College Basketball)
Doheny named COO of Jewish Hospital Medical Center Jul 22, 2008
where he led the creation of a new open-heart surgery program. A fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, Doheny earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland and his masters degree in health care administration from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. (Louisville Business First, KY)
DeBakey Buried At Arlington National Cemetery Jul 20, 2008
DeBakey pioneered such now-common procedures as the heart bypass, helped bring about open-heart surgery, developed artificial hearts and pumps and created more than 70 surgical instruments. He died in Houston at the age of 99 on July 11. (Click2Houston, TX)
Saint Agnes cleared for cardiac surgeries Jul 17, 2008
Bob Smittcamp, chairman of Saint Agnes' board of trustees, called the reopening of the open-heart surgery program great news ... "The major issue was procedural violations and the state has every right to be critical of us. We will continue on with quality initiatives and to be the leader of cardiac surgery in the Valley."Despite the clearance, Kaiser Permanente -- which contracts with Saint Agnes for open-heart surgery -- said it has no immediate plans to send its patients back to Saint Agnes... (Fresno Bee)
Melton, 2 others arraigned: All plead not guilty to federal charges Jul 17, 2008
Melton was hospitalized with chest pains in March 2007, a month after open-heart surgery. He had a defibrillator implanted in his heart in January after he fainted during a ceremony at the Hinds County Courthouse. (The Clarion-Ledger)
DeBakey First To Lie In Repose At City Hall Jul 16, 2008
While still in medical school in 1932, DeBakey invented the roller pump, which became the major component of the heart-lung machine, beginning the era of open-heart surgery. The machine takes over the function of the heart and lungs during surgery. (Click2Houston, TX)
DeBakey to be remembered at memorial service Jul 16, 2008
DeBakey's many accomplishments over his more than 0000282F 70-year career include: inventing a major component of the heart-lung machine, which ushered in the era of open-heart surgery; developing artificial hearts and heart pumps to assist patients waiting for transplants; and helping create more than 70 surgical instruments. His patients included such famous individuals as the Duke of Windsor, the Shah of Iran, King Hussein of Jordan, and presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon. (Houston Chronicle)
Valley hospitals get infection aid Jul 15, 2008
A dozen open-heart surgery patients suffered chest-wound infections and two, possibly three deaths resulted. This year, the hospital has dealt with leg wound infections related to cardiac surgery. (Fresno Bee)
N.J. board setting stage for resumption of angioplasty study Jul 15, 2008
The state Department of Health and Senior Services has recommended 12 hospitals be allowed to participate in the project, which is analyzing the safety and efficacy of performing elective angioplasty procedures such as balloon angioplasty at hospitals that don't have on-site open-heart surgery programs ... Hospitals opposed to the project have questioned its need and safety, saying there is an adequate supply of hospitals in the state that perform such procedures with open-heart surgery back-up... (Philadelphia Business Journal, PA)
Medical need is real Jul 15, 2008
It took Marietta's WellStar Kennestone Hospital nearly a decade to break the monopoly on open-heart surgery, held for years by a handful of Atlanta hospitals ... State statistics show that, on average, 400 Gwinnett County residents a year have open-heart surgery, but the closest hospital providing it is at least 20 miles away ... Gwinnett Medical Center should be allowed to perform open-heart surgery. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
Health Highlights: July 13, 2008 Jul 14, 2008
As Gas Prices Rise, U.S. Traffic Deaths Fall. Famed Heart Surgeon Michael DeBakey Dead at 99. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
American Heart Association Saddened by Death of Surgical Pioneer Michael E. DeBakey Jul 13, 2008
This device became an integral part of the heart-lung machine and helped make open-heart surgery safer and widely available. His new generation heart assist pump, developed at the other end of his incredible career while in his 80's, is evidence of his continued contributions well beyond the time when most of his generation of cardiovascular pioneers entered into well deserved retirement. (PR Newswire)
Pioneering US heart surgeon dies Jul 13, 2008
A pioneer in the development of artificial hearts and heart pumps to assist patients waiting for transplants, Dr DeBakey helped to design dozens of surgical instruments, including the roller pump, part of the heart-lung machine that made open-heart surgery possible. He was also credited with turning Baylor College of Medicine in Houston into a nationally renowned medical centre. (BBC News -- Health)
Church columnists: July 2, 2008 Jul 2, 2008
He had open-heart surgery on Jan. 6 and then he had a stroke and was paralyzed. He never came home from the hospital. (Catoosa County News, GA)
Saint Agnes tension festers Jun 29, 2008
A majority of the infection cases in the Saint Agnes open-heart surgery program have been associated with the Stanford group ... A shoving match between rival heart surgeons at Saint Agnes Medical Center was perhaps the first sign of serious trouble for the Fresno hospital's open-heart surgery program ... Doctors at Saint Agnes performed the hospital's first open-heart surgery in 1976. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
The X factor Jun 28, 2008
Xenophon insists his health is fine now, but in 2002 he had open-heart surgery and he suffers from recurrent back pain. "I'll have to find a decent physio in Canberra if it seizes up on me. I'm sure there will be lots of people wanting to manipulate me in Canberra.". (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Firefighters to raise funds at golf tournament Jun 28, 2008
A golf tournament will be held on March 31 for Woodbridge firefighter Jeremy Thigpin, who recently had open-heart surgery ... Proceeds will benefit family of Woodbridge firefighter recovering from open-heart surgery ... When firefighter Jeremy Thigpin first found out he would need open-heart surgery, he was more concerned about his job than anything. (Lodi News Sentinel, CA)
Plastics expert wins $500K Lemelson-MIT award Jun 26, 2008
The stents can help prevent heart attacks and avoid the need for open-heart surgery. Doctors, however, have become increasingly worried over data showing that newer model metal stents coated with drugs can slightly increase the risk of potentially fatal blood clots forming months or years after the devices are inserted. (Yahoo News -- Pharmaceutical Industry News)
Don't Waste Your Bypass Jun 26, 2008
A recent health surprise (I had to have open-heart surgery to bypass two clogged arteries) exposed my tendency to think, like the Pharisee praying in Luke 18, God, thank you that I am not like other men, overweight with high blood pressure. I eat heart-healthy, skip desserts, and walk on my treadmill. (Townhall.com)
