Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia treated in clinical practice. Lifetime risk of AF is estimated to be 24% in elderly patients.1–3 Stroke is the most devastating complication of AF, with AF patients experiencing a fivefold higher risk of stroke and a twofold increased risk of all-cause mortality.4 Taking all patients into consideration, the annual stroke risk is 5%, but can be as high as 15% depending on many common clinical factors.5
For nearly a decade, Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano has pursued innovation in cardiovascular healthcare, offering novel therapies and procedures for a variety of heart diseases. The large volume of procedures and surgeries performed at The Heart Hospital provides a unique opportunity for cardiologists and cardiac surgeons to train the next generation of innovators in cardiovascular healthcare. Under the leadership of Michael DiMaio, MD, Medical Director – Residency Fellowship Program, a yearlong Structural Heart Fellowship was initiated in July 2016.
Aortic dissections have been described as ticking time bombs—the sooner patients with this condition are treated, the better the outcome.
