JULY 2015
SAVE THE DATE
THE BEAT West Tennessee Heart & Vascular Center Newsletter
Now Open: Radial Lounge The Radial Lounge is now open and WTHVC is performing radial artery catheterization, the safer cardiac catheterization procedure associated with fewer complications and less recovery time. During cardiac catheterization, a long thin tube is inserted either in the femoral or radial artery. “The radial approach benefits patients by reducing the risk for bleeding complications,” states Dr. John Baker, Medical Director of the Chest Pain Center.
2015 Heart Walk
The Radial Lounge is a recovery area that provides care for patients receiving cardiac catheterizations through the radial artery. Patients
Sept. 26th, 2015
will spend recovery time in the Radial Lounge, a more comfortable, relaxed atmosphere specifically designed for patients who have received this type of catheterization. Jeff Young, Director of the Cardiac Cath Lab, says, “The Radial Recovery area, or Radial Lounge, takes patients after their procedures and places
Downtown on Jackson’s Court Square
them in a “less formal” hospital recovery setting. Patients can sit in a recliner with their family members at their sides instead of being confined to a stretcher for their recovery periods.”
Visit westtnheartwalk.org or call 731-267-8479 to register for the event Presenting Sponsor,
Potential advantages to the Radial Artery Catheterization: • Minimal bleeding • Less risk of nerve injury • Lower rate of complications • Faster recovery
Steps involved in Radial Artery Catheterization: • A local anesthetic will be injected to the wrist to numb the area. • A small tube (sheath) is inserted into the radial artery. • Medications are given to help relax the radial artery. • Blood thinners are also administered to help prevent the formation of blood clots within the artery. • The catheters are moved through the tube and guided to the heart. After the completion of the procedure, the catheters and tubes are removed from the radial artery. The patient will then recover in the radial lounge until released. Often, this recovery is two hours. Patients are able to sit up and eat after the procedure and may resume their normal activities after 48 hours.
wthvc.org
Meet a Member of the WTHVC Team Randy Cooper RN, Radial Lounge Randy Cooper’s 26 years of experience in cardiac nursing and trauma care have prepared him for his role with radial artery catheterization. Randy spends his days caring for patients who are recovering from cardiac catheterization via the radial approach—or wrist—as the entry point. These cardiac patients are awake, alert and able to walk and eat immediately after the procedure and are often discharged in 2 short hours. When asked about his new position in charge of the radial lounge, Randy says: “Although recovery is often easier than the femoral approach, patients need to be monitored, and the radial lounge gives them a comfortable place to do that while allowing other WTHVC team members to focus resources on more critical patients.” Randy feels as though his place at WTHVC and JMCGH is like coming home and says, “The team is as good and dedicated, if not better, than anywhere I have worked in the past. I know people would rather stay close to home and family for medical needs, and I feel grateful I can help provide that at JMCGH.” Randy and the Radial Lounge are located next to the Cardiac Cath Lab. You can reach him at 731-541-8726 or by email at randy.cooper@ wth.org with your questions about the benefits and steps of radial artery catheterization. When not in the Radial Lounge, you can find Randy enjoying golfing and fishing with his yellow lab Charlie. He is also an excellent cook and enjoys experimenting with new or unusual dishes.
One Phone Number For Complete Cardiovascular Care
731.541.CARE
wthvc.org
(2273)
with outreach clinics in
DYERSBURG
LEXINGTON
PARIS
1700 Woodlawn Dr P (731) 287-4830
14 Hospital Dr P (731) 967-0799
1006B Cornerstone Dr P (731) 642-0524
Douglas C. Appleby, Jr., MD, DHA Cardiothoracic Surgeon
High Tech Surgical Innovations: Robotic Surgery Medical research, innovations and technologies continue to save lives. One of these advancements is robotic surgery. Robotic surgery allows physicians to perform surgery using small, precise tools attached to a robotic arm. The surgeon controls this robotic arm with a computer. After making small cuts similar to those made for laparoscopic procedures, the surgeon inserts a camera into the patient’s body, allowing the surgeon to view enlarged 3-D images of the surgical site throughout the procedure. Although the surgery is called “robotic,” the procedure relies solely on the surgeon’s knowledge, as the robotic arm mimics the doctor’s hand movements to perform the surgery using tiny instruments. These procedures are less invasive for the sake of the patient and allow surgeons to carry out smaller and more precise interventions. Robotic surgery offers a variety of benefits to patients when compared with open surgery. These include: Douglas C. Appleby, Jr., MD, DHA
• A lower rate of complications • Less blood loss • Shorter hospital stay • Less pain • Improved quality of life after surgery • Small incisions for minimal scarring Because robotic surgery is so beneficial, this type of procedure can be used for a variety of procedures. For this piece, however, the focus is centered on thoracic robotic surgery.
Robotic surgery can assist with biopsies of lung masses to either stage cancer more accurately or possibly rule it out altogether. This includes the excision of pulmonary nodules. Still other thoracic conditions can be treated by robotic surgery. These include: • Esophageal cancer • Benign esophageal diseases • Gastroesophageal reflux • Mediastinal tumors and diseases • Treatment of myasthenia gravis • Chest wall tumors • Sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) At West Tennessee Heart & Vascular Center of Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, robotic thoracic surgery is conducted in a larger operating room suited specifically to accommodate this innovative technology. Cardiothoracic surgeons have state-of-the art research provided by West Tennessee Healthcare to successfully complete these thoracic minimum-access operations.
Jackson-Madison County General Hospital has surgeons in various disciplines that perform robotic surgery. For more information visit www.wth.org.
Thoracic robotic surgery is the most advanced, minimal access approach to thoracic surgical pathology and is sometimes an option for treating the following pulmonary conditions: • Pulmonary cancer • Infections • Pleural-based diseases • Pulmonary blebs from linear COPD • Pneumothorax • Full lymph node dissection from the mediastinum • Lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema • Other benign diseases and tumors of the lungs
wthvc.org
(731) 541-Care
Thank You for Supporting Night of Heart at the Ballpark Six months ago, Vickie Cleek collapsed while talking to her husband. She said if he had not known CPR, she would not be alive. Watch Vickie tell her story of how her husband, EMS and West TN Heart & Vascular Center saved her life after she experienced a heart attack.
Click to Watch Vickie’s Story
AHA Charity