NYU Cardiothoracic Surgeons Operate at the Cutting Edge
- Published in the Med Update Supplement distributed by the New York Times (June 17, 2001)
approach minimizes risk in elderly patients and encourages a quicker recovery. When outcomes of the standard sternotomy and the newer minimally invasive approach are compared for various procedures, such as mitral valve reconstruction, follow-up results favor the latter-with marked advantages for the patient.
"Due to increased osteoporosis and loss of bone strength in post-menopausal women, there is slowed healing -- or they don't heal at all, but doing it minimally invasively, healing time is decreased and the strength of recovery and breaths slows the patient down. There is less pneumonia and other complications - and she's a good example of that."
Osteoporosis is a disease that reduces the strength of bones, causing them to become brittle and less dense; it is recognized as a major public health problem in the elderly. It affects woman as well as men, primarily over the age of 65-the precise patient population demographics for heart surgery candidates.
"Many places won't operate on those higher-risk patients at all-just this morning I had a letter from a physician in Canada whose mother has the exact same thing as Mrs. Carl," Dr. Galloway explained, "but they didn't want to operate on her."
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Med Update is a publication of Lionheart Ventures, L.L.C. and is distributed by The New York Times. Lionheart Ventures, L.L.C., does not endorse the physician opinions expressed in Med Update. Lionheart Ventures, L.L.C. encourages discussion with your personal physician prior to seeking additional medical advice. The New York Times did not participate in the writing, editing, or photography of Med Update. Lionheart Ventures, L.L.C. exclusively owns all rights to Med Update. Photography is by Keith Weller. Please direct all inquiries regarding being featured in future issues of Med Update to Scott Simpson at (630) 718-9600 or (888) 962-4500
- Published in the Med Update Supplement distributed by the New York Times (June 17, 2001)
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Sylvia Carl's only complaint after having had mitral valve replacement surgery at New York University Medical Center is that she can't get any sympathy. "To tell you the truth," articulated the Bronx octogenarian, "I can't get any sympathy from anyone because I look too good; I went to the beauty parlor shortly after the surgery and they all looked at me and said, 'I don't believe it.'" When Mrs. Carl needed heart surgery, her son, a New York-area physician himself, circumspectly investigated his mother's options and settled on NYU and the less traumatic minimally invasive cardiac surgery. NYU Excels in Higher-Risk Patients "Many places won't operate on these patients at all. Sylvia Carl is older and had bad disease in the aorta. There would have been a lot more risk with surgery if it were done conventionally," said Dr. Aubrey C. Galloway, who is a professor of surgery and director of cardiac surgical research at NYU Medical Center and who has played a large part in developing the minimally invasive approach. While equally effective in terms of results and morbidity, the minimally invasive |
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"Due to increased osteoporosis and loss of bone strength in post-menopausal women, there is slowed healing -- or they don't heal at all, but doing it minimally invasively, healing time is decreased and the strength of recovery and breaths slows the patient down. There is less pneumonia and other complications - and she's a good example of that."
Osteoporosis is a disease that reduces the strength of bones, causing them to become brittle and less dense; it is recognized as a major public health problem in the elderly. It affects woman as well as men, primarily over the age of 65-the precise patient population demographics for heart surgery candidates.
"Many places won't operate on those higher-risk patients at all-just this morning I had a letter from a physician in Canada whose mother has the exact same thing as Mrs. Carl," Dr. Galloway explained, "but they didn't want to operate on her."
Last Page || Next Page
Med Update is a publication of Lionheart Ventures, L.L.C. and is distributed by The New York Times. Lionheart Ventures, L.L.C., does not endorse the physician opinions expressed in Med Update. Lionheart Ventures, L.L.C. encourages discussion with your personal physician prior to seeking additional medical advice. The New York Times did not participate in the writing, editing, or photography of Med Update. Lionheart Ventures, L.L.C. exclusively owns all rights to Med Update. Photography is by Keith Weller. Please direct all inquiries regarding being featured in future issues of Med Update to Scott Simpson at (630) 718-9600 or (888) 962-4500