Heart Surgery News and Research

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Heart surgery is done to correct problems with the heart. More than half a million heart surgeries are done each year in the United States for a variety of heart problems. Heart surgery is used to correct heart problems in children and adults. This article discusses heart surgeries for adults. For more information about heart surgeries for children, see the Diseases and Conditions Index articles on congenital heart defects, holes in the heart, and tetralogy of Fallot.

The most common type of heart surgery for adults is coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). During CABG, surgeons use healthy arteries or veins taken from another part of the body to bypass (that is, go around) blocked arteries. CABG relieves chest pain and reduces the risk of heart attack.

New valve repair device that could replace major heart surgery

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) is participating in a nationwide clinical trial of a new valve repair device that could replace major heart surgery in some patients.

8 Nov 2004

Genetic testing can be used to distinguish between ischemic and nonischemic forms of heart failure

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have shown that genetic testing can be effectively used to distinguish between heart failure patients who suffer from ischemic or nonischemic forms of the disease.

8 Nov 2004

Blood flow monitoring system to reduce risks during heart surgery

A unique haemodynamic (blood flow) monitoring system which will help to minimise the risk of complications during cardiovascular surgery is being developed by Leeds-based medical devices company, Medics Research Ltd.

4 Nov 2004

Do cholesterol-reducing drugs decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes in diabetics?

International researchers will, for the first time, present findings from the landmark 4D trial about whether a cholesterol-reducing drug decreases the risk of heart attacks and strokes with type 2 diabetics on dialysis at the American Society of Nephrology’s 37th Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri.

1 Nov 2004

Surgical future for heart patients in Canada's isolated towns and villages, will lie increasingly in the hands of robots

The surgical future for heart patients in Canada's northlands or in isolated towns and villages, will lie increasingly in the hands of robots, says Dr. Alan Menkis.

25 Oct 2004

Researchers have developed a novel drug-antidote pair

In a discovery that could give physicians more control over the actions of medications, researchers at Duke University Medical Center have developed a novel drug pair – a potent anti-coagulant with a matched "antidote."

18 Oct 2004

Research in children has shown that blood loss after heart surgery can be minimized if fresh whole blood is used for transfusions

A standard medical practice at some of the nation's largest children's hospitals – using whole, recently donated blood for certain infant open heart surgeries – may do more harm than good.

13 Oct 2004

Child heart deaths at Bristol fall below national average

Child heart deaths at the Bristol Royal Infirmary have fallen markedly, to below the national average, finds a study in this week's BMJ.

8 Oct 2004

Moderate alcohol consumption cuts rate of further narrowing after heart surgery

New German research from Heidelberg University suggests that moderate drinking cuts the rate of further narrowing after surgery to open blocked arteries. The findings are published in the current issue of Heart.

12 Sep 2004

Study shows blood transfusions during heart surgery appear to increase death risk

Patients who received blood platelet transfusions during coronary bypass surgery were more likely to have prolonged hospital stays, longer surgeries, more bleeding and higher risk of infection, stroke and death, according to an international study led by the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center.

29 Jul 2004

Iraqi child undergoes heart surgery in New York

Four-year old Bra’a Hussein’s heart will never be the same following recent surgery at NYU Medical Center to correct a highly complex congenital heart condition called tetralogy of fallot.

19 Jul 2004

Best hospital in America

For the 14th consecutive year, The Johns Hopkins Hospital has topped U.S. News & World Report's rankings of American hospitals.

2 Jul 2004

Innovative research to apply microwave energy to the treatment of potentially deadly heart rhythm disorders

Innovative research by UTS engineers to apply microwave energy to the treatment of potentially deadly heart rhythm disorders has received an important boost from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

30 Jun 2004

New heart surgery without opening chest

Thoracic surgeon Daniel Bethencourt, MD, one of the few cardiac surgeons to cure atrial fibrillation (rapid, irregular heartbeat) without opening the patient's chest, will perform endoscopic microwave ablation to treat atrial fibrillation in a 59-year-old man

29 Jun 2004

First robotic heart operations in the southern hemisphere

Monash University Department of Surgery staff have made history by performing the first robotic heart operations in the southern hemisphere.

11 Jun 2004

New device enable physicians to quickly join blood vessels during heart bypass surgery

Guidant Corporation has announced that the company has begun distribution of Cardica Inc.’s C-Port™ Distal Anastomosis System in Europe. Cardica’s C-Port System, which recently received approval, is designed to enable physicians to quickly and easily join blood vessels during heart bypass surgery.

2 Jun 2004

Heart Surgery News and Research

New valve repair device that could replace major heart surgery

Genetic testing can be used to distinguish between ischemic and nonischemic forms of heart failure

Blood flow monitoring system to reduce risks during heart surgery

Do cholesterol-reducing drugs decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes in diabetics?

Surgical future for heart patients in Canada's isolated towns and villages, will lie increasingly in the hands of robots

Researchers have developed a novel drug-antidote pair

Research in children has shown that blood loss after heart surgery can be minimized if fresh whole blood is used for transfusions

Child heart deaths at Bristol fall below national average

Moderate alcohol consumption cuts rate of further narrowing after heart surgery

Study shows blood transfusions during heart surgery appear to increase death risk

Iraqi child undergoes heart surgery in New York

Best hospital in America

Innovative research to apply microwave energy to the treatment of potentially deadly heart rhythm disorders

New heart surgery without opening chest

First robotic heart operations in the southern hemisphere

New device enable physicians to quickly join blood vessels during heart bypass surgery

Arrhythmias are more commonly associated with adults, they can affect children as well

Microwaving the heart may soon become a routine procedure for the treatment of heart rhythm disorders

A computer-based test that detects impaired cognition has been developed

Common anemia drug may protect hearts of infants undergoing surgical repair of congenital defects

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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