Cardiac Care News and Events - Baptist Health System

What Does Your Family History Mean For Your Health?

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Try the latest online health tool- our new Family Tree Risk Calculator.� The calculator is designed to help you learn more about what impact the health of your family members can mean to your vascular health.

This tool was developed for educational purposes only and is not intended nor should be a substitute for medical advise.

New Minimally Invasive Procedure; Safer for Atrial Fibrillation

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

St. Luke's Baptist Hospital is one of the first hospitals in the country using a new robotic catheter system to treat heart rhythm problems that can cause strokes. Dr. David Pederson is chief of cardiology at St. Luke's in San Antonio�and is one of only 20 doctors in the country currently trained to use the new technology.

Electrical problems in the heart are traditionally treated by inserting a catheter into the heart and using radiofrequency energy to burn tiny scars in problem areas which gets the heart beating correctly again. With the robot, doctors can get to areas they couldn't reach before and can guide the catheter with much more control and stability. 53-year-old Jose Lopez has suffered from atrial fibrillation for many years.�

Atrial Fibrillation

He recently underwent the new minimally invasive procedure, performed by Dr. Pederson in the electrophysiology lab at St. Luke's Baptist Hospital. "It's a tightness in the chest, and it slows me down." says Lopez. "So I'm looking forward to having more energy, and playing more golf after the procedure," he says with a smile.

Dr. Pederson operates a robot from a control station a few feet away from where Lopez lies awake on the operating table. Computer calculations cut down on the time it takes to complete the procedure and gives the surgeon a more exact picture of what's going on as compared to maneuvering the catheter by hand. "It's also safer and more efficient," Pederson says.

Nearly two million people in the U.S. suffer from atrial fibrillation. The inadequate blood flow to the body can lead to stroke. This happens when blood left in the heart pools and forms clots that can dislodge and travel to the brain. According to the American College of Cardiology, some 75,000 strokes occur each year as a result of atrial fibrillation. Correcting heart rhythm problems is crucial in preventing disability and deaths from strokes.�

David Pederson, MD, is a member in good standing of the medical staff at St. Luke's Baptist Hospital.�However, physicians are independent contractors who are neither employees nor agents of�St. Luke's Baptist Hospital�or of the Baptist Health System and as a result, Baptist Health System is not responsible for the acts of Dr. Pederson in�his medical practice.

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Cardiac Care at Baptist Medical Center

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Baptist Medical Center offers quality cardiovascular care and�is considered the "heart" of San Antonio's healthcare system in downtown San Antonio.��

Baptist Medical Center Cardiac Services:

A recently upgraded heart catheterization lab offering the latest in bi-plane, flat-screen imaging technology as well as dedicated rooms for post-surgical recovery.
The Vascular Institute of San Antonio
Baptist Medical Center has an Accredited Chest Pain Center designation by the Society of Chest Pain Centers.

It's no wonder that some of the best cardiologists in San Antonio treat their patients at Baptist Medical Center.

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Follow Your Heart To Baptist

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Cardiovascular care is at the heart of what we do, and it's just one reason why so many families trust us to care for their loved ones.

Baptist Health System offers the following cardiac care services:

Cardiac catheterization labs
Cardiac education services
Cardiothoracic surgery
Electrophysiology study capabilities
Non-invasive cardiology
Peripheral vascular surgery
Peripheral cardiovascular studies
da Vinci�heart surgery
Specialized intensive care and telemetry units

Chest Pain Center Accredited

The Society of Chest Pain Centers has granted the designation of Accredited Chest Pain Center to each of the five hospitals in the Baptist Health System. Baptist Medical Center, North Central Baptist Hospital, Northeast Baptist Hospital, Southeast Baptist Hospital and St. Luke's Baptist Hospital received full accreditation status from the Accreditation Review Committee on November 3, 2005.�

Baptist Health System�was the first in San Antonio to�offer�accredited chest pain�centers.�

Follow Your Heart to St. Luke's Baptist Hospital

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

San Antonio's top cardiologists and cardiac surgeons trust St. Luke's Baptist Hospital with their patients, from minimally invasive, robotically assisted heart surgery to cardiac catheterization labs.

Cardiac Services

A state-of-the-art Cardiac Catheterization Lab providing the diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions.
Peripheral vascular surgery
Acute Rehabilitation Unit
Robotically assisted cardiac capabilities
St. Luke's Baptist Hospital has an Accredited Chest Pain Center designation by the Society of Chest Pain Centers.

St. Luke's Baptist Hospital has far exceeded emergency cardiac care standards with its 'Heart Alert' program. The national benchmark is 90 minutes from the time a patient suffering a heart attack arrives at the hospital to the time the patient's heart is reperfused in the cath lab. St. Luke's Baptist Hospital is averaging below 70 minutes, one of the best in San Antonio.

Learn more about Baptist Health System's Cardiovascular Services

St. Luke's Baptist Hospital
7930 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, Texas
78229-3950
Maps & Directions

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Call (210) 297-7005 for more information.

Holiday Eating: It's About Enjoyment, Not Guilt

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

by Larry Lindner, MA

We are in the midst of the holiday season! This also means we are in the midst of holiday cookies, cakes, stuffing, sauces, and hams. Trying to eat healthfully can be difficult during this time of year, making some of us feel guilty when we veer from our healthful ways. But should we feel guilty? And should we substitute reduced-fat goodies for traditional holiday fare?

"I guess in principle it's a reasonable idea for people to cook lower-fat during the holidays," says Kelly Brownell, PhD, a Yale University professor of psychology who serves as director of the Yale Center for Eating and Weight Disorders.

"But it's swimming against the tidal wave of the very high-fat way people like to eat at this time of year," he points out. "They feel, rightfully so, that it's a time to treat themselves." But, he comments, attitude really counts.

"If people say, 'this is a time for celebration and I love these foods and I only have them once in a while,' then I don't think it's a problem," he remarks. But if they "feel shame and guilt," they'll feel bad and they won't get to enjoy the food.

Cutting Yourself Some Slack

Mark Hegsted, professor emeritus of nutrition at Harvard University's School of Public Health, has done a great deal of research on the relationship between diet and heart disease. Regarding low-fat cooking, he says, "My inclination is not to take it too seriously at this time of the year. The meals we want to eat have got to be good. If you can find low-fat ones that are satisfying, fine."

Gail Zyla, a registered dietitian, visiting lecturer at the Tufts University School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and coauthor of the popular college text, Personal Nutrition , believes that Christmas belongs in the 20% part of the 80/20 rule.

"Eighty percent of the time you try to do things 'right,'" she explains. "Give yourself a little more room 20% of the time. It allows for the stick-with-it-ness people need" to follow a healthful diet.

Zyla points out the 20% part of the rule helps people refrain from overeating throughout the holiday season.

"A lot of people go hog wild for the entire month of December," she notes. "If people were a little more relaxed about it and a little more forgiving, they wouldn't feel the need to go nuts and then get rigid in January."

The way for people to relax themselves into the 20% fraction of the rule, she says, is to remind themselves that "this isn't the last time that I'm going to be able to eat a cookie, or have some pie, or eat a little gravy." That way, they "don't overdo it because they don't feel they're stockpiling for the whole next year."

Balance Can Be Key

Rather than thinking of lower-fat dishes as things to make instead of the dishes you really love, people should simply look at them as possible opportunities to make new dishes that "are just good for their own sake and on their own merits," notes Jill Melton, MS, RD, former editor-in-chief of Cooking Light magazine.

Melton also points out that no matter what high-fat, high-calorie dishes you make, there's probably going to be some naturally low-fat fare on the table, too. "Fresh saut�ed green beans alongside the scalloped potatoes with cheese and cream," as she puts it. In other words, there tends to be at least some balance, even on the most weighty of holiday dinner tables.

Even if there isn't, the experts say, the world isn't going to come to an end. Or as Zyla succinctly puts it, "People should not beat themselves up over Christmas dinner. That's the last thing anyone needs to feel guilty about. Kick back and enjoy."

RESOURCES:
Duke Health.org
http://www.dukehealth.org/

United States Department of Agriculture
Food and Nutrition Information Center
http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov

Last reviewed October 2007 by Maria Adams, MS, MPH, RD

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Free Heart Health Seminars at North Central Baptist Hospital

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It's a numbers game when it comes to having a healthy heart. Do you know your numbers? When was the last time you had your blood pressure, cholesterol and weight checked? Knowing where you stand on these tests can save your life. North Central Baptist Hospital in Stone Oak is hosting a series of free educational seminars called "Know Your Numbers" given by leading cardiac specialists in San Antonio and where you can get free screenings that will let you know if you're at risk for heart disease.

Free Cardiac Seminars
Please don't become a statistic. Know Your Numbers. Attend one of the free heart health seminars at North Central Baptist Hospital, 520 Madison Oak. Plus, enjoy complimentary heart-healthy wine and dark chocolate at these events. For more information or to reserve your seat, call 297-7005.

See Seminar Schedule�

Baptist Health System was the first San Antonio to offers five accredited chest pain centers throughout San Antonio. Baptist Health System is pleased to support the American Heart Association as the signature sponsor of this year's Start! Heart Walk. The event takes place Saturday, November 8 at Brackenridge Park. The 2.32 mile walk along a scenic park trail gets started at 9:00 a.m. at Joske Pavilion.

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While doctors Gresham, Otero, Challapalli, Patel, Arora and Dhir are members of the medical staff at North Central Baptist Hospital, they are independent contractors who are self-employed. As a result, doctors Gresham, Otero, Challapalli, Patel, Arora and Dhir are neither employees nor agents of North Central Baptist Hospital, and North Central Baptist Hospital is not responsible for any actions which doctors Gresham, Otero, Challapalli, Patel, Arora and Dhir take in their medical practice.

Cardiac Care at Northeast Baptist Hospital

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The beautiful, modern Cardiovascular Center at Northeast Baptist Hospital offers excellence in cardiovascular care with comprehensive heart programs.

Cardiac Services:

A Cardiovascular Center dedicated solely to the prevention and treatment of heart disease and staffed by cardiac care health professionals.

64-slice Computed Tomography (CT) scanner technology that provides your physician a detailed visualization of the heart's arteries.

Northeast Baptist Hospital has an Accredited Chest Pain Center designation by the Society of Chest Pain Centers.

Northeast Baptist has far exceeded emergency cardiac care standards with its "Heart Alert" program. The national benchmark is 90 minutes from the time a patient suffering a heart attack arrives at the hospital to the time the patient's heart is reperfused in the cath lab. Northeast Baptist Hospital is averaging 46 minutes.

8811 Village Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78217-5440
Map & Directions

What is a Heart Valve Replacement?

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Definition

This is a surgical procedure to replace a damaged heart valve. The heart's four valves, which open and tightly close, allow blood to flow from one chamber to another and also allow blood to leave the heart through the large blood vessels. Usually only one valve is replaced at a time, but at times one or more valves have to be replaced. Heart valves are either mechanical (metal and plastic), such as a St. Jude valve, or made of tissue. Tissue valves most commonly come from a pig (porcine valve) or a cow (bovine valve), but they may also be supplied by a human donor or even manufactured from your own tissues.

Aortic Valve Replacements: Mechanical vs. Tissue

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Parts of the Body Involved

Heart and chest

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Reasons for Procedure

This procedure is done to repair:

Congenital valvular defects
Narrowed, stiff valves that obstruct the free flow of blood
Loose, leaky valves that allow blood to flow the wrong way through the heart
Infected heart valves
Infected or diseased tissue or mechanical valves

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Risk Factors for Complications During the Procedure

Pre-existing heart or lung condition
Advanced age
Recent or chronic illness
Stroke
Kidney or liver failure
Recent infection
Poor dental care

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What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

Your doctor will likely do the following:

Physical exam
Echocardiogram-a test that uses sound waves to visualize functioning of the heart, including the valves
X-ray-a test that uses radiation to take a picture of structures inside the body
Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG)-a test that records the heart's activity by measuring electrical currents through the heart muscle
Cardiac catheterization (possibly)-the insertion of a tube-like instrument into the heart through an artery (usually in the leg) to detect problems with the heart and its blood supply. It can also accurately define the valve problem.
Have blood ready for surgery

In the days leading up to your procedure:

Do not take aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs for two weeks before surgery, unless told otherwise by your doctor.
Stop all blood thinners a week before surgery.
See a dentist and get your teeth checked out.
Arrange for a ride to and from the hospital.
Arrange for help at home after returning from the hospital.
The night before, eat a light meal and do not eat or drink anything after midnight, unless told otherwise by your doctor.

During Procedure

IV fluids, oxygen, anesthesia, and diversion of blood circulation through a heart-lung machine

Anesthesia

General

Description of the Procedure

The surgeon cuts through the skin and breastbone, opens the chest, and connects your heart to a heart-lung machine. This machine takes over the functions of the heart and lungs during the operation.

The surgeon stops the heart, makes an incision, and removes the damaged valve. The new valve is stitched into place and checked to make sure it opens and closes properly. The incision in the heart is closed and the heart restarted. Once the heart is working fine, you will be removed from the heart-lung machine and your chest will be closed with wires. The skin will be closed with absorbable sutures.

After Procedure

You'll be closely monitored in the intensive care unit with the help of the following devices:

Heart monitor
Breathing tube until you can breathe independently, then an oxygen mask
Chest tubes to drain accumulated fluids from the chest
A line into an artery in your arm to measure pressure
A tube through your nose and into the stomach (a nasogastric tube) to keep the stomach drained of accumulated fluids and gas
Bladder catheter

How Long Will It Take?

3-5 hours, depending on how many valves are being replaced

Will It Hurt?

Anesthesia prevents pain during surgery. You may experience some pain during recovery, but will be given pain medication to relieve the discomfort.

Possible Complications

Infection
Blood clots around the valve, which can cause a stroke, kidney damage, or damage to the extremities
New valve does not work properly
Sac around the heart may become inflamed and painful
Excessive bleeding
Pneumonia
Phlebitis (blood clots of a vein)
Anesthesia-related problems
Infection of breast bone
Death

Average Hospital Stay

2-5 days-The first day is usually spent in an intensive care unit. Over the next few days, all the lines and tubes are removed. As you start to walk and eat a regular diet, you may be sent for rehabilitation therapy

Postoperative Care

Breathe deeply and cough 10-20 times every hour.
Two to three days after surgery, you may be able to walk with help.
You may be started on anticoagulant medications (blood thinners) to prevent blood clots from forming around the valve. If you have a tissue valve, you will not require a blood thinner after surgery. But, if you have a mechanical valve, you will be placed on a blood thinner for the rest of your life.
Only take medications approved by your doctor.

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Outcome

The surgical site in your breastbone heals in 4-6 weeks. Once recovery from the surgery is complete, you should be able to return to your normal activities.

Depending on the type of valve you receive, you may need to take anticoagulant medication for the rest of your life. You will need to take antibiotics before some dental and surgical procedures to decrease the risk of infection.

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Call Your Doctor If Any of the Following Occurs

Signs of infection, including fever and chills
Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from the incision site
Cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, or severe nausea or vomiting
Coughing up blood
Rapid heart rate
Sudden headache or feeling faint
Problems with vision or speaking
Numbness or weakness on one side
Inability to urinate
Pain, burning, urgency, frequency of urination, or persistent bleeding in the urine
Pain and/or swelling in your feet, calves, or legs, or sudden shortness of breath or chest pain

�RESOURCES

American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000

National Library of Medicine
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/

�CANADIAN RESOURCES

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
http://ww2.heartandstroke.ca/Page.asp?PageID=24

University of Ottawa Heart Institute
http://www.ottawaheart.ca/UOHI/Welcome.do

REFERENCES:

Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 21st ed. WB Saunders Co, 2000.

Society of Thoracic Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.sts.org/.

Cardiac Care at North Central Baptist Hospital

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The Cardiovascular Center at North Central Baptist Hospital brings you highly trained physicians, compassionate nurses who specialize in cardiac care and state-of-the-art technology.

In our Accredited Chest Pain Center our emergency room staff have been specifically trained to evaluate, diagnose and treat chest pain quickly, saving time and lives.

The Cardiovascular Center at North Central Baptist Hospital also provides:

2 new interventional cardiac catheterization labs for diagnosis and treatment of artery blockage
New 10-bed Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
New 31-bed Progressive Cardiac Care Unit
New 9-bed Outpatient Cardiovascular Care Unit
New state-of-the-art operating suite dedicated to open heart surgery
Cardiac education to help you with your treatment plan after you leave the hospital

When chest pain strikes, the Cardiovascular Center at North Central Baptist Hospital in Stone Oak is here to provide your family with high quality care.

North Central Baptist Hospital
520 Madison Oak Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78258-3912
Maps & Directions

Call (210) 297-7005 for more information.