Cardiovascular
Fort Sanders Regional has the most advanced cardiac technologies and medicines, along with proven conventional treatments, to help meet your cardiac needs. With our team of top cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, nurses, and technologists, we have the right treatment and the right people to give heart patients the best possible care.
The Heart Center at Fort Sanders provides comprehensive services, including cardiac diagnostics, clinical trials, and cardiovascular surgery. Advanced treatment technologies, such as state-of-the-art robotically-assisted heart surgery are also available. Cardio/Pulmonary rehabilitation is an integral part of the healing process for many cardiac patients. Our program is designed to help patients regain their strength and stamina.
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Fort Sanders Regional is a
"heart attack" hospital
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Coronary artery disease is the term used to identify the presence of atherosclerosis in the arteries that carry blood to the heart muscle. Atherosclerosis is a buildup up of fatty substances on the inner walls of blood vessels which can block or restrict blood flow. Atherosclerosis is a major risk factor of heart attacks.
For some patients, medications are the best course of action. For others, surgical intervention may be necessary. Before a plan of treatment is chosen, a definitive diagnosis is needed.
State-of-the-Art Cardiac Diagnostics
You may have heard the phrase “time is muscle”. This refers to heart attack survivability. When blood flow does not reach heart tissue and muscle, it dies. The faster someone can receive medical care, the better their chances for recovery. That is why a fast, accurate diagnosis of a heart condition is so important.
State-of-the-art diagnostic tools are available at Fort sanders, including:
- The area's first Lightspeed® 64-slice VCT scanner captures an incredibly precise image of the heart in just five heartbeats.
- Vivid 7® echocardiography uses ultrasound to produce a moving cardiac image in real time.
- Nuclear stress tests find difficult-to-detect problems in the heart's outer covering.
- Electrocardiograms provide reliable diagnostics and stress tests performed right in the hospital assure immediate care if a problem is discovered.
The Latest Medicines
Physicians at Fort Sanders Regional participate in clinical trials of new medicines for a wide range of heart conditions. Three potentially life-saving medicines for unstable angina and heart attacks are currently being tested. A new trial is investigating a drug to prevent heart attacks and strokes in acute coronary syndrome patients.
Minimally-Invasive Treatment
Great strides have been made in minimally-invasive procedures for heart-related issues. Minimally-invasive procedures allow physicians to implant valves and repair holes in the heart wall without a major incision.
- An Innova 4100® digital cath lab gives cardiologists unprecedented image clarity to help assure accurate assessments and ideal placements of stents and balloon angioplasties.
- Radiofrequency ablation controls rapid heartbeats with radio waves.
- Drug-eluting stents open blocked arteries and help prevent a recurrence of the blockage.
Cardiovascular Surgery
Cardiovascular surgery includes surgical procedures to correct abnormalities within the heart and/or great vessels. Some of the more common procedures are coronary artery bypass, valve repair or replacement, correction of congenital heart defects and repair of aortic aneurysms.
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery – Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery, also referred to as CABG, is a treatment option for coronary artery disease. Based on the size, number, and locations of artery blockages, your doctor may decide that bypass surgery is the best treatment.
- Valve Repair and Replacement – Heart valves work like gates which open to let blood move forward and close to allow the heart chamber to fill with more blood. Problems occur when a valve does not open wide enough (stenosis) or close tight enough (regurgitation). When these problems occur, the heart cannot pump enough blood forward which causes problems over time like – shortness of breath or heart failure. Your doctor may suggest that you have the valve repaired or replaced.
- Aortic Aneurysm Repair – The aorta is the large artery which carries blood from the heart to the major organs and other areas. This artery can develop a weakening in the wall of the vessel. If this occurs your doctor suggest that you have it repaired.
Robotically-Assisted Surgery
The daVinci robotics system gives surgeons the capability to perform select heart procedures without opening the patient's chest and patients usually experience fewer side effects and faster recovery times.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Fort Sanders Regional's complete cardiac rehabilitation program combines education, exercise, counseling, and more to help heart patients regain their functional capacity and reduce the possibility of future heart problems.