As the volume of ablation cases – and electrophysiology cases overall – has increased at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano so has the hospital’s reputation as a leader for quality outcomes in the field. Since the hospital opened in 2007, ablation case volumes have gone from just over 300 a year to more than 1,000.
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) is performed using arteries and saphenous veins from patients to bypass blocked arteries in the heart. Over 400,000 are performed in the US annually. It is shown to be effective to prolong life and decrease angina. One disadvantage of the use of saphenous vein grafts in CABG procedures is the risk of decrease flow in the vein due to neointimal hyperplasia that could lead to graft failure. To address this issue, a new clinical trial is investigating the use of the VEST device – an external metal sleeve used around the vein graft – that could potentially improve the long-term patency of these common grafts.
To reduce the risk of stroke, the WATCHMAN™ left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) device has provided an additional option for some patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation who are not good candidates for long-term anticoagulation therapy. Now, studies are underway to investigate the effectiveness of this device in a wider patient pool.
“My Doctor” a tribute by Michael Emmett, MD
Rachel and I arrived in Dallas 42 years ago when I began to work at Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health, as a nephrologist. I quickly started to work with the residents, one of whom was Nancy, and I soon met her husband, Mark, a newly trained internist on the staff. Over the ensuing years Rachel, Nancy, Mark and I became close friends, and we took many wonderful vacations together.
Below are some of the latest updates from various Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health, Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs over the last several months.
