From Marathon to Hospital: A Patient’s Unexpected Stroke Journey
May is American Stroke Awareness Month. A stroke takes place when blood vessels that supply oxygen to the brain become blocked or rupture, resulting in damaged brain cells and potentially even permanent brain damage or death. Sadly, stroke continues to be one of the leading causes of death and disability in our country. Imagine not realizing you were experiencing the signs of a stroke, instead thinking you are just suffering from side effects of exhaustion after running a marathon in another country. This is what happened to one of our CTVS patients who recently visited Japan to compete in her [...]
Reviewing the Ross Procedure with Dr. Kerendi
The Ross procedure is a complex operation designed to replace a diseased or damaged aortic valve. This unique surgery relies on a patient's own existing tissue, the pulmonary valve, to replace the aortic valve rather than using an artificial valve. The Ross procedure is only performed by a handful of skilled, board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons nationwide who are trained in this highly specialized technique. In fact, only around 300 people in the U.S. each year undergo the Ross procedure for aortic valve replacement. CTVS has a long history of performing the Ross procedure with successful patient outcomes and a mortality rate [...]
Can GERD cause Esophageal Cancer?
The esophagus is the tubular muscle that facilitates swallowing and connects the mouth to the stomach. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 22,000 new cases of esophageal cancer diagnosed this year, and more than half of those will result in death. As April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month, our team of thoracic surgeons are eager to educate people on the risk factors and often subtle signs that can be hard to detect associated with this serious disease. GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a common risk factor that contributes to esophageal cancer. What is GERD? GERD [...]
What is a mediastinal mass?
The mediastinum is an area in the chest located between the lungs in the middle of your thoracic cavity. Residing inside the mediastinum are the heart, aorta, esophagus, trachea, lymph nodes, and a small organ called the thymus. In rare cases, abnormal cells can develop in the mediastinum and a mass forms. This is known as a mediastinal mass, a condition our thoracic surgeons at CTVS are highly experienced and skilled at treating. What is a mediastinal mass? Mediastinal masses can develop in a variety of forms including lymphomas, thymomas, tumors and cysts. Generally, these masses tend to be benign, [...]
How Can IVC Filters Help Prevent Blood Clots?
It’s hard to believe that every six minutes someone dies from a blood clot here in the United States. Blood clots are gel-like masses that form inside your arteries or veins anywhere in the body. Blood clots are unfortunately hard to recognize, but because March is Blood Clot Awareness Month, our team of board-certified cardiothoracic and vascular specialists are spreading the word about what to look for and how to know if you might be suffering froma blood clot. What should I know about blood clots? If a clot forms in one of the deep veins in your arms or [...]
What to Know About Benign Esophageal Diseases
At CTVS, our thoracic surgeons treat conditions affecting the esophagus including the most serious issue – esophageal cancer – and benign foregut disease like acid reflux (or GERD) and achalasia. What is GERD? GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease, or more commonly acid reflux, and refers to the occurrence of stomach acid routinely flowing backwards up into the esophagus from the stomach. If it happens often, the stomach acid can irritate the esophagus and lead to painful and chronic heartburn. To diagnose GERD, one of the following diagnostic studies may be ordered: Barium esophagram: an illuminating liquid helps to X-ray [...]
A Closer Look at ECMO & VAD in Honor of American Heart Month
February is American Heart Month and we are highlighting some of the important therapies we work with often to aid in repairing and/or extend the life of the heart. Our board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons perform procedures day in and day out to improve heart health and save lives. Some of these include administering technologies such as ECMO and VAD. Both are typically used as a last resort when other cardiac treatments have not proven successful or as a means to take over some of the work of the heart as a “bridge” to a heart transplant or other restorative procedures later [...]
What you should know about new lung cancer screening guidelines
Lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer in the United States, with approximately 125,000 lives estimated to be lost this year. Because its symptoms are commonly associated with so many other conditions, like a cough and chest pain, lung cancer can be hard to diagnose. At CTVS, we are proponents of early screening for lung cancer, especially if you have certain risk factors such as being a smoker or having a family history, and our team of thoracic surgeons are experts in the surgical treatment of lung cancer if you are ever diagnosed. The American Cancer Society [...]
Young ICU Nurse’s Journey from Murmur Discovery to Heart Surgery
35-year-old Tamara Fort is an ICU nurse and what many would consider the epitome of good health. She lifts weights three to four times a week and watches her nutrition closely. She isn’t someone you would consider to be at risk for heart disease. But for the past two years, she experienced shortness of breath, and knew something wasn’t quite right. “I always chalked it up to some kind of respiratory infection that one of my three children would bring home,” she explains. But then the shortness of breath intensified this past October, especially after her workouts. One morning she [...]
Kudos to our Austin Monthly Top Doctors for 2024
We are humbled and honored to begin the new year with recognition from our peers in the local Austin medical community. CTVS is pleased to share that several members of our team of our board-certified cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons have been named to Austin Monthly magazine’s Top Doctors list for 2024. Our CTVS physicians recognized as Top Doctors for this year are: Cardiothoracic Surgery: W. Chance Conner Brendan P. Dewan Stephen J. Dewan Mark C. Felger Eric M. Hoenicke Faraz Kerendi Vascular Surgery: Jeffrey M. Apple John K. Politz Austin Monthly’s Top Doctors are chosen each year with guidance from [...]