Heart valve issues such as regurgitation (where the valve doesn’t close tightly and leaks) or stenosis (narrowing) stemming from a congenital condition or damage due to age or a serious illness can require surgical repair or valve replacement. CTVS has spent more than 65 years treating heart valves and other cardiothoracic issues, and our board-certified [...]
Several months ago, Helen Garrison was suffering from dizzy spells she initially attributed to side effects from a new medication. Diagnostic tests later revealed she had an ascending aortic aneurysm and a leaky aortic valve. An aortic aneurysm is an abnormal bulge that forms in the wall of the heart’s most important blood vessel, [...]
In keeping up with the demands of Central Texas' growing population and health needs, CTVS is excited to welcome board-certified vascular surgeon Nicolas Zea, MD, RPVI, FACS to our staff. For more than 65 years, CTVS has always taken pride in assembling a stellar team of cardiothoracic and vascular specialists, and we are thrilled with [...]
Most people are aware of the importance of keeping your overall heart health in check--with regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, and maintaining good blood pressure. But what about your heart valves? They are the intricate structures deep inside the heart muscle that are essential for its proper functioning. If they are damaged or deteriorate, [...]
Smart watches continue to get smarter, especially when it comes to health and fitness tracking. And, more and more people are wearing them. As of early 2020, it was estimated that roughly one-in-five adults in the U.S. regularly reported wearing a smart watch or fitness tracker to monitor things like heart rate, blood pressure, and [...]
Recent data has linked myocarditis to young people (mainly ages 16 to 24 years) receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. While we do not typically treat this age group at CTVS, we do see myocarditis in our patients quite often. Myocarditis is a cardiovascular condition that occurs when the heart muscle becomes inflamed. It can be triggered [...]
As you check in with your loved ones this Father’s Day, take time to ask them about how their overall physical and mental health is too. June is Men’s Health Month which brings awareness to the many serious medical conditions that men face while also emphasizing that most of them are also highly treatable if [...]
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 [...]
