Men, Heart Disease and Bypass Surgery
Did you know that the leading cause of death for men in the United States is heart disease? Heart disease, or coronary artery disease, is most commonly diagnosed when the arteries that carry blood to the heart become blocked, resulting in serious conditions such as a heart attack. As June is Men’s Health Month, CTVS encourages all men to take a good look at their overall health, and especially their heart. Ways to ensure optimal heart health include eating a healthy low-fat diet, exercising regularly, and keeping blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check. Unfortunately, some are still prone to [...]
What should you know about Aortic Dissection?
A sharp and sudden chest pain could be caused by any number of issues, such as a heart attack. Another possibility, although extremely rare, is an aortic dissection. Aortic dissections are estimated to occur in about 5 to 30 people per every one million in the United States each year. It is one of the many serious heart conditions our board-certified cardiothoracic and vascular specialists surgically treat at CTVS. What is aortic dissection? An aortic dissection occurs when the inner layer of the aorta (the largest artery in the body) becomes weak and tears, or dissects, causing blood to spill [...]
A Stroke and A Song
While stroke is a serious and potentially deadly condition, a Central Texas man is using humor and songwriting as part of his healing process. On November 9, 2021, Chuck King was working as an insurance agent and speaking to one of his coworkers, when suddenly his right side went numb. Knowing something felt off, he had his friend call an ambulance. Once he arrived at the hospital, he was told he had a mini-stroke. A stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain and can cause permanent damage or sometimes be life-threatening. [...]
Dr. Neely Travels to Kenya for “Every Heartbeat Matters”
We are always extremely proud of our CTVS physicians when they volunteer their surgical skills and help those in need. One of our board certified cardiothoracic surgeons, Dr. Robert Neely, and CTVS Surgical Tech Theresa Vela, recently returned from such an endeavor in Kenya providing cardiac surgical care and training. They traveled there through their affiliation with The Division of Global Health at The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School who are part of AMPATH (The Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare), a consortium of universities working together to support and develop sustainable healthcare programs at partnering hospitals [...]
Meet Milly: Mother of Two, Heart Disease Survivor
May is around the corner and one of our warrior patients is an inspiring mom and someone whom we are grateful to know and have cared for. Her name is Kuan-hsien 'Milly' Lee. She is a 36-year old mother of two who was recently treated for a mitral valve prolapse by CTVS board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Faraz Kerendi. Mitral valve prolapse is a heart condition that affects the valve between the left heart chambers. The mitral valve is made up of thin leaflets which can bulge outwards (or prolapse) and result in blood flowing backward toward the lungs as the [...]
Local Blues Guitarist Jimmie Vaughan is Still Strumming Along After Heart Surgery
Most musicians will say they want you to listen to their music. But one local and legendary blues guitarist says that you should listen to your heart. Jimmie Vaughan, 72, is an Austin-born musician (and older brother of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan). A few months ago, that may not have seemed possible. Vaughan recently underwent quadruple heart bypass surgery performed by CTVS board-certified cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Mark Felger in December. His surgery was necessary due to a heart attack and a common condition known as stenosis (narrowing of the arteries which reduces blood flow in and out of the [...]
How can walking help with Peripheral Artery Disease?
As the weather is warming up now, it’s a great time to get outside for a walk. Walking is an excellent form of exercise, especially if you are one of the estimated eight to ten million Americans who are living with Peripheral Artery Disease, or PAD. PAD is a condition caused by the narrowing of arteries resulting in poor blood flow/circulation from the heart out through the rest of the body, typically to the lower extremities. Symptoms of PAD include painful aches and cramps as well as non-healing ulcers on the legs and feet. At CTVS, our board certified vascular [...]
What are the benefits of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery?
The mitral valve is a major part of the heart situated between the lungs and the left ventricle. It helps to regulate blood flow and ensure that it moves in the right direction throughout the body. If it becomes leaky (mitral valve regurgitation) or too narrow (mitral valve stenosis), it may need repair or replacement to keep the heart operating properly. Mitral valve repair or replacement surgery is the second most common form of heart surgery performed in the United States. Today, many mitral valve surgeries can be done with a minimally invasive approach, as opposed to traditional open-heart surgery which [...]
Celebrating a New Lease on Life Following an Aortic Aneurysm
Having the flu may have saved former Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell's life last spring. Because of his severe symptoms, he had a chest X-ray so doctors could take a closer look into his lungs. That's when they discovered what's called a thoracic aortic aneurysm (or TAA). A TAA is a bulge that develops in the wall of the heart’s aorta. If it bursts, blood can leak outside the heart into the body and prove to be life-threatening. Unfortunately, there are often no symptoms of a TAA and they are usually only detected when a patient is being checked for something [...]
How a chance CT scan found an Austin man’s lung cancer
The start of the new year is a great time to prioritize your health. A way to accomplish this is to schedule an annual physical with your physician and also get screened if you are at risk for, or have a family history of, certain serious conditions like cancer. One type of cancer that can be tricky to detect and diagnose is lung cancer. Although the majority of those who suffer from it are smokers, an estimated 10 to 20% of diagnosed cases in the United States occur in people who have never smoked. The surgical treatment of lung cancer [...]