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 [...]
Austin Monthly Top Doctors for 2023
Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons (CTVS) is thrilled to begin the new year by congratulating several of our physicians who have been named to Austin Monthly magazine’s list of Top Doctors for 2023. Each year we are grateful for the recognition that our team receives from the local Austin community, including Travis, Hays and Williamson counties. Our Austin Monthly Top Doctors for 2023 are: Cardiothoracic Surgery Chance Conner, M.D. Brendan Dewan, M.D. Stephen Dewan, M.D. Mark Felger, M.D. Faraz Kerendi, M.D. William Kessler, M.D. Robert Neely, M.D. Vascular Surgery Jeffrey Apple, M.D. Jeffrey Jobe, M.D. (retired) John Politz, M.D. Stephen Settle, [...]
What you should know about the holidays and heart attacks
In the United States, someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds. That number is often said to spike during the holidays. While the holidays are a fun and festive time, they can also wreak havoc on your health. In fact, research shows that the most likely days someone is bound to suffer a fatal heart attack are during the holidays–specifically Christmas, the day after, and New Year’s Day. It is a time when our board-certified cardiothoracic specialists at CTVS urge you to take caution and care for your heart. What causes heart attacks during the holidays? Cardiac experts point [...]
CTVS 2022 Texas Monthly Super Doctors
We are always humbled at CTVS anytime we receive accolades for the cardiac, vascular and thoracic care that we provide to our patients, and it is especially gratifying to be commended by our fellow medical community for it. This year, we are proud to share again that several of our physicians have been recognized as Texas Monthly Super Doctors®. Our CTVS Texas Monthly Super Doctors for 2022 are: Cardiothoracic Surgeons Stephen J. Dewan, MD Mark C. Felger, MD Eric M. Hoenicke, MD Brannon R. Hyde, MD Faraz Kerendi, MD William F. Kessler, MD Hunter Q. Kirkland, MD Vascular Surgeons Jeffrey [...]
Feeling Thankful with Our Patient Freddie Martinez
As Thanksgiving approaches and we reflect on what we are grateful for at CTVS, seeing our patients thrive is definitely at the top of our list. 67-year-old Freddie Martinez is one of those patients. He has been under the care of board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. William Kessler since 2011 when he underwent emergency surgery for an aortic dissection. Each year at his annual check-up - which falls during the holiday season - Freddie brings lunch and delicious treats for the whole staff to enjoy in appreciation for the life-saving treatment CTVS provided. Freddie and Dr. Kessler recently shared their heartfelt [...]
Does air pollution cause lung cancer?
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month when CTVS is committed to raising awareness about this serious, life-threatening disease. We also want to take a closer look at ways to both prevent and effectively treat it. According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer, but the first leading cause of all cancer deaths. Lung cancer is one of the most frequent conditions that our thoracic surgeons and specialists see and treat at CTVS. Smoking is still the foremost cause of lung cancer, but new research is finding that there is another culprit contributing [...]
What is Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement, or TMVR?
The mitral valve is a small but very important element of the heart that helps to ensure blood is flowing in the correct direction throughout the body. If it becomes damaged or weakened, due to conditions such as regurgitation (a leaky valve) or stenosis (a narrowed valve), it may need to be replaced. Transcatheter mitral valve replacements (TMVR) is just one of the many forms of delicate and complex heart valve repair and replacement procedures that our board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons frequently perform at CTVS. Mitral valve replacement is traditionally performed by open-heart surgery, which has certain risks associated with it. [...]
A Peek Into the CTVS Operating Room
During a surgery in the operating room (OR), everyone has a clearly defined role as to what their unique contributions will be for the procedure. The surgical team is made up of surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, a variety of technicians, physician assistants (PA), and sometimes medical residents or students who all work in harmony to ensure the best possible care and outcome for the patient. A surgeon takes the lead with help from PAs and surgical or scrub techs, also known as first and second assists, who supports him or her. At CTVS, we are immensely proud of our highly skilled [...]