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 [...]
How are Diabetes, PAD and Foot Ulcers Related?
According to the Society for Vascular Surgery, Peripheral Artery Disease (or PAD) is a chronic circulatory condition that affects up to 10 million Americans. September is PAD Awareness Month and CTVS aims to educate people about this condition in hopes of driving those numbers down. PAD can be a serious condition that causes narrowing of arteries and restricted blood flow to the extremities, which if left untreated can lead to amputation of a limb. CTVS board-certified vascular surgeons strive to preserve limbs and avoid amputation at all costs when treating patients with PAD. In addition to poor circulation in the [...]
Pectus Excavatum Symptoms and Treatment
Board-certified thoracic surgeon, Dr. Rachel Medbery, treats a condition known as pectus excavatum, a chest wall deformity that causes a person’s breastbone to sink inward. It’s also referred to ‘funnel chest’ and is more common in boys than girls. Pectus deformities are the most common chest wall defect and occur in approximately 1 of every 150-1,000 births, according to the National Library of Medicine. Dr. Medbery says that visually, it looks like a person’s chest is concave. It is a congenital condition and caused by an overgrowth of cartilage where the ribs come together and meet the breastbone. When that cartilage [...]
CTVS Brings Cutting Edge Device to Central Texas
CTVS board certified cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey McNeil was recently the first surgeon in Austin and Central Texas to repair a complex thoracic aneurysm with a new FDA-approved device. This was the patient’s second lifesaving aortic procedure performed by a CTVS surgeon. The first procedure was an emergency lifesaving surgery for an acute type A dissection, which is a tear in the body’s main artery, the aorta, as it branches off the heart. The patient then developed a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm, which is a weakened area in the aorta. To repair the patient’s complex aortic disease, Dr. McNeil used the Terumo [...]
Stroke Procedure Restores Man’s Ability to See Color
In the United States, someone suffers from a stroke every 40 seconds while someone dies every three to four minutes. Yet, up to 80% of strokes are preventable. CTVS vascular surgeons are using a newer, less invasive procedure, TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR), that can help prevent a stroke in patients with a known carotid artery blockage. In a recent interview with Nicole Villalpando in the Austin American Statesman, CTVS patient Stephen Galloway shares how the TCAR procedure, performed by vascular surgeon Dr. Taylor Smith, helped him see in color again after experiencing a stroke. You can read the entire article [...]
Vaping’s Harm to Vascular Health
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and premature death in the United States, killing more than 480,000 people each year and costing more than $300 billion annually on smoking related illness. As more people understand that smoking can lead to considerable damage on every organ and system throughout the body, some have turned to vaping, thinking it might be a safer alternative. However, studies have shown that those who use electronic cigarettes have higher rates of heart attacks, stroke, depression, anxiety and circulatory problems than those who do not use e-cigarettes. Vaping also caused a 2019 outbreak [...]
CTVS Physicians Named Rising Stars
Two Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons (CTVS) physicians have been named 2022 Super Doctors Rising Stars in the July issue of Texas Monthly magazine. Congratulations to vascular surgeon David Nation, M.D. and cardiothoracic surgeon Brendan Dewan, M.D. on this special recognition! Dr. David Nation specializes in all areas of endovascular and vascular surgery. His special interests include treatment of aortic aneurysmal disease, endovascular and open surgical treatment of peripheral vascular disease, and treatment of carotid stenosis. Dr. Brendan Dewan specializes in adult cardiothoracic surgery and special interests include adult acquired valvular heart disease including aortic root surgery, minimally invasive mitral and [...]