MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'heart surgery'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:10:23 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103339&cid=t_119077_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmore-specialty-specific-apps-are-coming-on-the-market%2F2011.08.06 The explosive growth of medical applications for smartphones, launched by the  debut of the innovative Apple iTunes App store in 2008, promises to fundamentally change the physician’s tool set. While many specialties have always been heavily dependent on technology, such as radiology and cardiology, the ubiquity of these small, interconnected computers means that every physician will soon have access to a broad array of software and hardware to help them perform their daily work. At iMedicalApps.com, we have been reviewing the most interesting medical apps on the market today as well as watching for trends in mobile medical technology. The most popular categories thus far have been clinical reference and utility apps.  Some of the largest download numbers have been for apps that provid... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103339 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 16:00:33 +0100 5103339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3866938&cid=t_119077_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F08%2Farizona-conjoined-twins-die-heart-surgery%2F Conjoined twins Emma and Taylor Bailey died during surgery on their shared seven-chambered heart. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3866938 Sun, 15 Aug 2010 04:07:32 +0100 3866938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3767075&cid=t_119077_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcleveland-clinic-targets-the-heart-of-chicago%2F2010.07.19 All I can say is, best of luck. From the Chicago Tribune: In a move likely to shake up the market for heart care in the Chicago area, the well-known Cleveland Clinic’s cardiac surgery program said Thursday that it has signed an affiliation agreement with Central DuPage Hospital in the western Chicago suburbs. The internationally known Cleveland Clinic draws patients from more than 85 countries around the world for everything from open-heart surgery and valve replacement to heart transplants. Its deal with Central DuPage, in Winfield, is designed to enhance the heart care provided at the 313-bed community hospital and potentially bring Cleveland Clinic patient referrals at a time heart surgeries are less needed than they were a decade ago. This won’t shake up the market in Chicago. ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3767075 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:00:00 +0100 3767075 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3501543&cid=t_119077_105_f&fid=38964&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrwes.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fone-mans-mission.html Mr. Ron Murray, a tranplant heart recipient, tells his story:From the video:"… if the transplant issue ever comes up for anyone listening, that’s almost the first thing they would think, too. If I had time to think about it over that year, I would have realized, oh my God, I would have apprehension all built up about how I would react to...I mean is it going to change my way of thinking? Is it going to alter my own thoughts? None of that holds up, ultimately. When I realized that there was going to be, forever, an emotional component, and maybe a spiritual component to this thing that I hadn’t thought about, is when I became – God, I don’t even know if I can tell you about it – that I began to grieve for the donor, that brought be to tears several of those nights.But they weren... Dr. Wes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3501543 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 11:21:00 +0100 3501543 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3318346&cid=t_119077_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F03%2Ftop-canadian-official-danny-williams-seeks-surgery%2F Canadian Premier Danny Williams has apparently decided to get his heart surgery in the United States instead of using the Canadian Healthcare system, according to his spokesperson. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3318346 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:02:12 +0100 3318346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3182199&cid=t_119077_105_f&fid=38964&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrwes.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fwide-awake-open-heart-surgery.html Click image to enlargeWhy someone would want to do this, I haven't a clue.Swaroup Anand, 23, from Bangalore, is fully conscious as he undergoes open-heart surgery. An epidural to the neck, administered at the city’s Wockhardt Hospital, has numbed his body. Dr Vivek Jawali pioneered the technique ten years ago and has recently released a tutorial on DVD which gives a step-by-step guide to the procedure – sorry, but you can only get a copy if you’re a surgeon or an anaesthetist.Seems there would be considerable risk of respiratory compromise is the epidural went too high. But according to this video, over 400 cases have been performed, including a bypass with aortic valve replacement!I don't know... I'm not sure I could stomach the sound of the bone saw or, worse, if the surgeon said "... Dr. Wes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3182199 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:33:00 +0100 3182199 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2695311&cid=t_119077_85_f&fid=34587&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kevinmd.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F08%2Fwhat-do-primary-care-physicians-and-cardiac-surgeons-have-in-common.html They’re both going to be scarce. Along with primary care, cardiothoracic surgeons are projected to be in short supply, according to a report in MedPage Today. A study found in Circulation suggested that fewer medical students are pursuing the field, leading to a “shortage of at least 1,500 surgeons or 25% of the likely projected need.” Lifestyle issues are cited, as it takes over 8 years of post-graduate training to become a cardiothoracic surgeon. It’s interesting to note, however, whether the need for bypass surgery will be the same 10 to 15 years from now. Already, the frequency of bypass surgery for coronary artery disease has decreased by 28 percent from 1997 to 2004, while the frequency of cardiac stenting has more than doubled over the same period. Perhaps th... Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2695311 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:00:19 +0100 2695311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2663999&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FFPuxt3OJAtU%2F Robin Williams has announced that he will return to stand up comedy. This is a huge announcement considering he had heart surgery just seven months ago. The comic made jokes about wanting to go back out on the road, saying he was “running out of merchandising money from Bicentennial Man,” one of his many movies. But Williams is also acknowledging how different life after open heart surgery is. He says it has had a positive impact on his personal life, making him more grateful and open to his friends and family. In a rare serious moment, he said after such a life altering surgery, “you really do appreciate the simplest things like breath, and friends.” He will go on a 20-date tour with his new act entitled Weapons of Mass Destruction. Image: Zuma Press Share and ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2663999 Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:36:18 +0100 2663999 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2653696&cid=t_119077_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fever-dreamed-of-being-a-heart-surgeon%2F Well, here’s your chance… Have a go at Open Heart Surgery. Definitely not for the faint of heart. With a simulated heart monitor beeping away, the pressure is on to perform. There’s a choice of three levels - intern, surgeon, and specialist. I should have chosen intern but I wanted to be the top gun. Bad move. As a specialist, I killed the patient within seconds. I was advised to ‘call my lawyer’. Or maybe something a little less challenging - performing open heart surgery on a stuffed bunny . Easy you think! Think again! You have 60 seconds to shock the heart, make an incision, do some intraoperative tasks and then suture the poor bunny back up.  I tried but the poor bunny did not survive. Don’t know about you, but my dream of being a (successful) su... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2653696 Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:00:27 +0100 2653696 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2287309&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FT1QKkLYfM9o%2F Robin Williams underwent heart surgery on March 13th, which included replacing the aortic valve and repairing the mitral valve.  The 57-year-old comedian is reportedly doing very well. The aortic valve is a tricuspid valve - it has three leafs that open and close. The aorta, which is the largest artery in our body pumps cleaned, oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The aortic valve allows the oxygenated blood out and then closes so that the blood can’t back up. The valve can either malfunction or become sclerotic , which means that it starts to thicken, narrowing the passageway, making it more  difficult for the valve to work properly. Robin Williams Aortic valve surgery isn’t unusual, even at 57. There are many reasons why the valve may malfunction. Som... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2287309 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:28:47 +0100 2287309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2200771&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FfliVcGo19hk%2F I received some very interesting information this morning from Kaylea Livingston of Ohio State University Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. I found that children born with heart defects are all but forgotten when they reach 18. Caitlyn MacKay underwent heart surgery when she was just 90 days old, for an extensive heart defect. Throughout child-hood she had consistent care; she is living proof of what has been accomplished in recent years. It is estimated that 30 to 40 thousand children out of a million are now receiving specialized care. The way health care stands today 95% of the children that have gotten specialized care throughout their child-hood will find that it stops at 18. Doctor Curt Daniels of Ohio State University is participating in a study following childr... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2200771 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:22:58 +0100 2200771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2147674&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F7zm9uxOIPqk%2F A healthy heart will beat 60 to 100 times a minute, anything over that is considered Tachycardia. When you experience rapid heartbeats it is always wise to consult your health care provider. In some cases tachycardia isn’t considered a threat, while others are life threatening. If you are diagnosed with recurring tachycardia, your health care provider will recommend the treatment suited to your specific needs. According to the severity of the tachycardia open heart surgery may be needed.    During an attack of tachycardia the heart is pumping at such a high rate, that the blood is not getting to the rest of your body. When the attack happens it deprives organs and tissues of oxygen. Some symptoms of a tachycardia attack are as follows. Lightheadedness Shortness of brea... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2147674 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:00:00 +0100 2147674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2144706&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F68dPnbcYjlQ%2F   For something that is a little smaller than an i Pod, the implantable cardioverter defibrillator carries quite a punch. The implant has small wires running to the chambers of the heart. If there is any disruption like ventricular fibrillation the implant sends off a burst of electricity to force the heart into a normal rhythm. Before the (ICD) an attack of ventricular fibrillation was often deadly. The implant works on the same premise as the heart paddles that are used in most emergency rooms or trauma centers, to shock a patient back to life. The invention of the (ICD) has given people with heart problems, a freedom that a few years ago was unheard of. A young mother in Washington State, has a new lease on life due to her implant. She said, “That she rarely notices that the (ICD... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2144706 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:00:00 +0100 2144706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2116025&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FXyMz6XeYOkI%2F Heart valve replacement surgery is preformed more than 250,000 times per year. Even with this large a number of surgeries, there was little information on the subject, as Adam Pick and his family would find. Adam found at even the young suffer any number of problems with their hearts. He was diagnosed with severe stenosis and regurgitation in his aortic valve, and that both the aortic and pulmonary valves would have to be replaced through surgery. After receiving this information Adams family and friends started a search for information on open heart surgery. They searched for books, literature, and on line articles on open heart surgery to no avail. The material that was found did not give them any peace of mind. As we all know stress is the biggest enemy that there is for people with hea... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2116025 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:00:00 +0100 2116025 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2116026&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FbcDIeKRpQlY%2F A new method of measuring blood flow can help to boost the outcome of stents. The measuring of the blood flow can determine where stents need to be implanted. Studies have shown that this new method is more effective than X-Ray examinations. If you are considering having this procedure, your health care provider should be made aware of any problems.  Let them know if you have an allergy to shellfish or intravenous dye, have diabetes or kidney disease. You will find more on this subject by clicking here Angioplasty. Beautiful animated explanation courtsey MAYO CLINIC Tags: angioplasty, Blood flow, diabetes, Heart-surgery, intravenous dye, kidney disease Video, shellfish, stents, X RayShare This (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2116026 Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:20:00 +0100 2116026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2090108&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FLrfTl_sM0d8%2F Wonderful news on Good Morning America, for cardiac patients. There is now a new alternative to some heart surgeries. Patient’s that are considered high risk with aortic stenosis were until now usually unable to have a conventional valve replacement.  The Transcatheter Valve replacement procedure can be accomplished without cardiopulmonary bypass. This procedure is less invasive therefore causing less risk to the patient. This also means a shorter recovery time. There have been only a few hundred people in the country that have undergone this procedure. One of these patients is Sister Thomas Duggan; at the age of 91 she  underwent the Transcatheter Valve procedure. Six months ago the Sister was told that her heart was failing; she had not been able to sleep and had shortness o... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2090108 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:20:42 +0100 2090108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1933238&cid=t_119077_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5173 Well it apparently happened soon after heart surgery so reports The Sun. A YOUNG man born with a heart problem died while watching a porn film. Chris Nicholls, 23, collapsed after getting over-excited as he viewed the blue movie in his bedroom, an inquest heard. He died of a cardiac arrest weeks after having open-heart surgery. One isn’t exactly sure if watching the blue movie triggered his death unless a post-mortem is done. Still the timing quite suggests that porn was what did him in, and the adrenaline surge when getting excited may trigger abnormal heart rhythms so it is quite likely. So how many of you advise your patients “not to watch porn” after heart surgery? Come to think of it, if you are a Man United fan and you saw the way they played against Hull City last... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1933238 Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1933238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1837388&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FisBJLAlKRy0%2F I thought I would share with you one of my most popular posts… It is always a very big topic, since so many do not discuss this with their doctors and nurses due to embarrassment. Healthbolt has inspired me to write once again about that taboo subject of sexual relations. When I think about it, my discharge teaching with an acute MI patient is focused on nutrition, exercise and lifestyle changes, but doesn’t touch on sex. Don’t you think that should be a valid thought? “When is it safe to have sex again?” Well, lucky for ya’all, I have done my research on the horizontal hookie pookie. Sexual intercourse is considered as mild to moderate exercise. It takes about as much energy as walking up a couple flights of stairs. Most people can safely resume sexual... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1837388 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:33:25 +0100 1837388 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1812863&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F1QSRQNxL8ew%2F I have received many emails asking about the open heart simulation that I posted about previous so here you go again… It is really cool- give it a go! Oh my goodness. I found the coolest simulated open heart surgery “game”. It is very elementary on an anatomical level and has 3 different levels you can choose from. At the surgeon level, that would be mid-grade, I was successful. At the specialist level… not so much! In fact they advised me to “call my lawyer”. Haha. While it is only a depiction of what open heart surgery really consists of, it is fairly accurate. I have scrubbed open heart before and the simulation follows the same basic steps just without the complications, risks and unforeseen circumstances of real surgery. Give it a try and let me kno... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1812863 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:18:56 +0100 1812863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1794547&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FNwQkXMgFVVo%2F I was watching How to Look Good Naked- that Carsin Palmer show on Lifetime… Have you seen it? They take women that have low self esteem and have inner issues with themselves and work with them to believe in themselves and look good naked. I love it- it makes me look at myself different as well. I guess I can love the stretch marks that gave me 3 beautiful little girls! Anyway- there was a thirty something year old women that had issues with herself due to scares from many heart operations. She was born with a very rare type of congenital heart defect- where her heart did not form properly and needed to be rebuilt- and she had some large scars on her chest and back and belly from chest tubes and incisions. She was so beautiful and a great person. She was very pretty and when I looked ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1794547 Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:56:31 +0100 1794547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1729587&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FZhv5Qjz-X2s%2F A 92 year old Australian women is the first to undergo a ground breaking procedure. In the radical procedure, a new aortic valve is attached to a long rod and fed through a small incision in the groin up to the the heart, where it defrosts and expands. Wow! This will take the place of open heart surgery for those that are too old and frail to undergo surgery. This will also help with cost and recovery time. Tags: aortic valve, australia, cath procedure, open-heart-surgery, valve replacementShare This (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1729587 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:15:25 +0100 1729587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1451919&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F293105377%2F The older we get the harder it is for us to make it through surgical procedures and invasive treatments. That is somewhat tongue in cheek due to the fact that as we get older we need more treatment and surgeries. This also proves true for heart patients and more specifically heart valve patients. There is a minimally invasive Phase II EVEREST clinical trial with the aim of treating malfunctioning heart valves in the elderly. The new technique, already proven safe by a Phase I clinical trial in 2005, involves only a small incision through the skin in the groin. A small catheter is then guided up through the maze of the blood vessels of the circulatory system and into the targeted heart chamber. Then, a tiny metal clip is clamped into the area to stabilize the malfunctioning valve. This less... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1451919 Sun, 18 May 2008 18:27:27 +0100 1451919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1321813&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F256234913%2F So you have done everything on your checklist prior to your open heart surgery. Pre-op physical… check… labs… check… packed the bag… check… donated your blood… check- but this is where the question comes into play. A new US study found that cardiac surgery patients who received blood transfusions of blood that had been stored for 2 weeks or less had lower rates of complications and death than those who received blood that was older. Were you instructed on when to donate? Did the nurse or case manager that prepared you for surgery advise you that the fresher your blood the better? Why would this be the case you ask? Older blood loses nitric oxide, an important agent in the delivery of oxygen to tissue cells. Another reason is that red blood cells b... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1321813 Sat, 22 Mar 2008 22:32:43 +0100 1321813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1084321&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F198083708%2F Here are some links of new publications. All are ideas revisited by me from over the last few months. I read through a lot, and I mean a lot, of science journals and such this morning but the ones that I found the most interesting and news worthy were very similar to research I have shared previous. The new research takes things a step further… Depression linked to death following heart attack…Depression nearly triples the risk of death following a heart attack, even when accounting for other heart attack risk factors, according to research presented today at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) annual meeting, which showed that among 360 depressed, post myocardial infarction patients followed for more than six years, those who did not recover from their depre... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1084321 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:49:32 +0100 1084321 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1067859&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F194472275%2F Man oh man! I feel like there is always some sort of research pointing to some other type of research that has already been accepted and totally disagrees with what we have been doing for years. Do you follow? hahah. It seems that now researchers are suggesting that transfusions among bypass surgery patients are not as favorable as we thought… The research found patients who received a red blood cell transfusion experienced a three-fold increase in complications arising from lack of oxygen to key organs — such as in a heart attack or stroke. This is a finding at odds with the widely held belief that red cell transfusion improves delivery of oxygen to tissues. These findings were regardless of hemoglobin levels. Over half of all heart surgery patients receive a blood transfusio... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1067859 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:29:38 +0100 1067859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1024363&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F184234112%2F The brains of full-term infants with congenital heart disease appear more similar to those of premature newborns than to the brains of normal term infants, a study conducted by researchers at UCSF has found. The study suggests that the mental and physical impairments in children with congenital heart disease may also have their origins in utero in addition to injuries resulting from surgery. Up till now we have not fully understood the widespread deficits in cognition, including memory, attention, and higher-order language skills, as well as deficits in fine motor skills of these children. The suggestion is now that the deficits themselves can be attributed to abnormal fetal circulation and lower levels of oxygen-saturated blood reaching the brain in while in the womb… which makes a ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1024363 Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:16:01 +0100 1024363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1012447&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F181184946%2F Lights? Check. Camera? Check. Scalpel????? Um huh, I said scalpel. Check! Very cool indeed. A Cambridge surgeon, Francis Wells, provided entertainment to over 200 members of the public via the operating room. This really is neat! Dr. Wells talked the audience through the procedure and fielded questions about open heart surgery and valve repairs along the way. When you think about it, this is a much easier way to “teach” about surgical procedures and medical treatments. A normal OR can only handle two dozen or so professionals that cram as close as they can to the ledge of the observation deck. I know personally, it was always much easier to pick up technique and sequencing when I was up close and personal during surgical procedures. There were no issues finding volunteers for t... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1012447 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:30:07 +0100 1012447 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=979216&cid=t_119077_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F175046231%2Fvirtual_open_heart_surgery_you.html Pharmacology can be dry and a tad boring at times but I found a site that had a link to the coolest game and I wanted to share it with you.Bertalan Mesko at ScienceRoll posted a link to game that's half a waste of your time and half learning experience. Life Changing Science- Program 2: Virtual Open Heart Surgery.  Yup, you get to play heart doctor.From the site: Open Heart Surgery is often cited as the most invasive of all medical procedures. In this interactive you assume the role of surgeon in coronary bypass surgery. The procedure is represented in 13 steps from prep to recovery. At each stage you will be supplied with instructions on how to proceed and then asked to carry out an over-simplified version of the actual procedure. Whilst based upon the real operation, this i... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=979216 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:15:35 +0100 979216 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=966971&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F172962733%2F Oh my goodness. I found the coolest simulated open heart surgery “game”. It is very elementary on an anatomical level and has 3 different levels you can choose from. At the surgeon level, that would be mid-grade, I was successful. At the specialist level… not so much! In fact they advised me to “call my lawyer”. Haha. While it is only a depiction of what open heart surgery really consists of, it is fairly accurate. I have scrubbed open heart before and the simulation follows the same basic steps just without the complications, risks and unforeseen circumstances of real surgery. Give it a try and let me know how you do. You know you want to! Share This (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=966971 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 18:00:38 +0100 966971 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=956201&cid=t_119077_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F170743113%2F I am bringing you a list of 10 Hearty trivia facts. Some are oh so crazy and off the wall, others are expected. Enjoy! And don’t forget to check out all of my fellow science and health bloggers “top 10 lists”. I think it is a fun way to relay information, both clinically and personally… Top 10 Hearty Trivia Facts 1. Poet Mary Shelley kept her dead husband’s, Frankenstein author Percy Shelley, heart wrapped in silk until she died. Imagine how that smelled! 2. You can purchase the largest model of a human heart for a small price of $5795.95 US dollars. Um huh, I said five thousand. It is 8 times the size of an anatomical heart at 100×90x70 cm. Wow, that is a lot of money! 3. The smallest person believed to ever have open heart surgery was just over 25 week... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=956201 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:45:44 +0100 956201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=828090&cid=t_119077_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F28%2Fbaby-boy-survives-three-months-with-artificial-heart%2F Filed under: Daily news, Children Heart Health, SurgeryBritish baby Jack Vellam (13 months) went home from the hospital recently after an astounding 120 days on an artificial heart. Apparently, it was a record-breaking stay: that is the longest anyone so young has stayed on an artificial heart.Five months ago, Jack was diagnosed with myocarditis - inflammation of the heart muscle. He had fallen ill suddenly and suffered a heart attack, then spent several days in intensive care. He became so ill that his mother agreed with doctors' recommendation that his life-support machine be turned off. "It was a heart-breaking ordeal for all of us," said his mom Danielle. Then the docs unexpectedly came up with another option: a transplant, if a donor heart could be found. The parents reluctantly agree... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=828090 Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 828090 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=828089&cid=t_119077_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F28%2Fits-a-miracle-teens-lifesaving-artificial-heart%2F Filed under: Products, Children Heart Health, SurgeryI was fascinated to read about the baby boy who survived 120 days on an artificial heart. What an incredible device. Now here comes another news story. Same device, but this time it's about a Canadian teen. Fifteen-year-old Melissa Mills spent 146 days connected to her artificial heart. During that time she and her family were waiting for a transplant opportunity. Like the UK baby, however, her heart healed itself and she's now doing just fine - no surgery required! "For sure it's a miracle," one heart specialist was quoted as saying.Even a few years ago, it would have been considered just about impossible for someone like Melissa to survive without a heart transplant. Indeed, it was not altogether certain Melissa would survive her illne... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=828089 Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 828089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682486&cid=t_119077_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F6%2F19%2Fwise-up-when-is-comes-to-heart-disease-women-are-different-f.html This is Dr. Bill Bestermann's first post as one of the TDWI writers (A Big Welcome, Bill!).   Dr. Bestermann makes it clear that there is a long way to go, baby, before the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease in women gets to where it should be...hey! ladies, let's WISE up!  Here you go: The evidence has become irrefutable that life-style change and medications aimed at vascular risk factors outperform bypass surgery and stenting in prevention of heart attack. Not only that, but non-invasive strategies have positive benefits on the entire vasculature that prevent stroke, nerve damage, eye damage, kidney damage and amputation. Women are different These differences may be even more important for females. For some time now, there has been discussion of women being di... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682486 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:07:41 +0100 682486 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682805&cid=t_119077_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F18%2Fheart-surgery-outcomes-on-the-table%2F Filed under: Women Heart Health, Men Heart Health, SurgeryIn a handful of states it's now possible to access death rates and quality assessments of heart surgeons and hospitals where heart surgery is performed. Pennsylvania is one such area, and The Philadelphia Inquirer recently took a look at how this is impacting the surgeons themselves. So, what's the view like from the other end of the stethoscope? Will the possibility of public scrutiny encourage talented surgeons to base their careers elsewhere? The Inquirer profiles one surgeon who has just moved back to Pennsylvania from Virginia, and who did so knowing that his patient outcomes records would be on the table for all to see. His conclusion? He definitely took this openness into consideration in deciding whether or not to relocate. ... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682805 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 682805 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=612087&cid=t_119077_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F15%2Fa-button-for-gabriels-heart%2F Filed under: Family history, Children Heart Health, SurgeryFor any parent who has heard the following string of words, "Is there a history of congenital heart defects in your family?" life is never quite the same after those words are uttered. Life is never again taken 100% for granted. The joys of childhood are held dear for just a moment or two longer because once your universe is shaken to its core, those moments are needed for processing.One mother who has been struggling with such issues is Emily Elizabeth. Her young son, Gabriel, was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect when he was a just a day old. Today he will be undergoing his second heart surgery in under a year. Gabriel's first surgery was a success but in November 2006 his family was informed he would need another procedur... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=612087 Tue, 15 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 612087