February is American Heart Month and we are highlighting some of the important therapies we work with often to aid in repairing and/or extend the life of the heart. Our board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons perform procedures day in and day out to improve heart health and save lives. Some of these include administering technologies such as ECMO and VAD. Both are typically used as a last… Source ..read more

Did you know that the leading cause of death for men in the United States is heart disease? Heart disease, or coronary artery disease, is most commonly diagnosed when the arteries that carry blood to the heart become blocked, resulting in serious conditions such as a heart attack. As June is Men’s Health Month, CTVS encourages all men to take a good look at their overall health... Source ..read more

A sharp and sudden chest pain could be caused by any number of issues, such as a heart attack. Another possibility, although extremely rare, is an aortic dissection. Aortic dissections are estimated to occur in about 5 to 30 people per every one million in the United States each year. It is one of the many serious heart conditions our board-certified cardiothoracic and vascular specialists... Source ..read more

May is around the corner and one of our warrior patients is an inspiring mom and someone whom we are grateful to know and have cared for. Her name is Kuan-hsien ‘Milly’ Lee. She is a 36-year old mother of two who was recently treated for a mitral valve prolapse by CTVS board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Faraz Kerendi. Mitral valve prolapse is a heart condition that affects the valve... Source ..read more

Most musicians will say they want you to listen to their music. But one local and legendary blues guitarist says that you should listen to your heart. Jimmie Vaughan, 72, is an Austin-born musician (and older brother of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan). A few months ago, that may not have seemed possible. Vaughan recently underwent quadruple heart bypass surgery performed by CTVS board-certified... Source ..read more

February is American Heart Month, and here is a story that is close to ours about a very special patient who is paying his good fortune forward. Dr. Jeff Zapalac (a retired orthodontist) started experiencing very mild symptoms that seemed to be affecting his heart, including difficulty breathing and exercising. While he initially attributed that to his older age, he also had a gut feeling that... Source ..read more

Most people are aware of the importance of keeping your overall heart health in check–with regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, and maintaining good blood pressure. But what about your heart valves? They are the intricate structures deep inside the heart muscle that are essential for its proper functioning. If they are damaged or deteriorate, serious problems could occur... Source ..read more

The mitral valve is a small but very important element of the heart that helps to ensure blood is flowing in the correct direction throughout the body. If it becomes damaged or weakened, due to conditions such as regurgitation (a leaky valve) or stenosis (a narrowed valve), it may need to be replaced. Transcatheter mitral valve replacements (TMVR) is just one of the many forms of delicate and... Source ..read more

All throughout February, CTVS has been sharing ways to get heart healthy in honor of American Heart Month. One important piece of advice we are sharing comes from a special patient of ours, Chris Valdez, who says that you should never ignore troubling health symptoms, especially those regarding your heart, as it could mean a matter of life and death. Chris, a 43-year old single father of five... Source ..read more

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease in the U.S., affecting approximately 18.2 million adults over the age of 20. It is a condition in which arteries of the heart become narrowed or clogged due to plaque build-up. If left untreated, this restricted blood flow to the heart can lead to serious damage including heart attack and even death. Traditionally... Source ..read more