As part of a national, multi-center, NIH-sponsored study, Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano is comparing the effect of deep, low and moderate hypothermia during aortic arch surgery on post-surgery brain function and functional connectivity. Studies have confirmed the protective effect of induced hypothermia during cardiac surgery, but the new trial will analyze the ideal temperature for hypothermic circulatory arrest in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
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.
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.
