Heart failure is an epidemic in the United States, with over 6 million patients suffering from some type of heart failure. While the majority of these patients will be treated medically or with traditional surgery, in some cases, these treatments will ultimately fail.
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common type of pancreatic cancer, is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. It is an extremely slow growing tumor. PDAC normally remains undetectable until late in the disease process, due in part to the physical location of the pancreas. It is situated behind the stomach at the back of the retroperitoneal space, overlaying the aorta, vena cava, and spine, deep inside the body. Because of the location of the pancreas, a computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan is typically needed to detect a lesion, so it may not be discovered until the patient develop symptoms. PDACs located in the head of the pancreas may obstruct the bile duct, resulting in jaundice. Approximately 80 percent of PDAC cases present with this painless jaundice. When the lesion is located in the body or tail of the pancreas, however, the first symptom is likely to be pain associated with invasion of the spleen or stomach, occurring much later in the course of the disease.
When it comes to complex coronary cases, the multidisciplinary team at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano has created a collaborative, coordinated approach to determining the right option for those needing coronary revascularization.
In patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) who are at risk for bleeding, left atrial appendage closure is often considered instead of oral anticoagulation as a possibility to reduce the risk of stroke. As left atrial appendage closure options have expanded to include new occlusion devices in recent years, Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano has responded through a team approach.
