Robotic surgery is becoming more and more mainstream in operating rooms. This technology is used for everything from having your gallbladder removed, a hysterectomy or prostatectomy, or a hernia repair, to lung and esophageal surgery. CTVS has been treating thoracic disorders (those occurring between the abdomen and the neck) for more than 50 years and [...]
As the world starts to return to normal following the pandemic, it’s important for anyone who suffered from COVID-19, even a mild case, to listen to their heart. Heart disease is currently the leading cause of death in the United States with roughly one person dying every 36 seconds from it. Sadly, that number is [...]
Riding a unicycle requires skill, coordination, balance, and above all else, the use of both legs. Imagine being passionate about your hobby of unicycling and facing the loss of a leg to amputation due to a vascular condition known as PAD, or peripheral artery disease. This scenario was one that CTVS patient Duane Campbell--an avid [...]
Last year, stroke cases were down nearly 40% due to fear of going to the hospital amid the pandemic. Yet there were still more than 159,000 deaths reported due to this common and sometimes deadly medical emergency that occurs when blood supply to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain bursts [...]
Esophageal cancer can be a) very rare, b) sometimes fatal, or c) successfully treated if found early. All of the above are correct here. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 19,000 new cases of esophageal cancer will be diagnosed this year, and from those, nearly 15,000 unfortunately could prove fatal. With April being [...]
According to the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network, the number of organ transplants performed in 2020 was 39,034. That number decreased from 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and strict mandates placed on many surgical procedures for a large part of the year, including transplants. With a renewed sense of hope and a gradual return [...]
Vascular surgeons are experts in the diseases and conditions of arteries and veins and all major blood vessels of the body except those of the heart and brain. Our expertise is in mobilizing, removing, repairing, and replacing these vessels. CTVS has been providing vascular services in Central Texas for more than 65 years. Vascular surgeons [...]
CTVS has been the “go-to” expert for vascular disease in Central Texas for more than 65 years. Vascular disease and vascular health are often unfamiliar to some people. What part of the body or system do they refer to? Is it the same as cardiovascular health? What type of doctor treats vascular conditions? The vascular [...]
February is American Heart Month, and here is a story that is close to ours about a very special patient who is paying his good fortune forward. Dr. Jeff Zapalac (a retired orthodontist) started experiencing very mild symptoms that seemed to be affecting his heart, including difficulty breathing and exercising. While he initially attributed that [...]
As we near the year mark of the COVID-19 battle, doctors and surgeons are still learning about the virus and the potential long-term health concerns COVID survivors may endure. We know people with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms varying from mild to severe, and now physicians are reporting some patients’ lungs look [...]
