University of Maryland Heart Center News

Better Strategies are Needed to Inform Patients of Heart Device Recalls

Fri, 23 May 2008 15:46:09 -0400

Despite extensive media coverage and information from their physicians, one in five patients with an implanted heart device was not aware of the recent defibrillator and pacemakers recalls. In addition, significant discrepancies exist between the patients’ preferred sources of recall information and how they actually learned of those recalls.

Inaugural University of Maryland Heart Center Baltimore 10-Miler on June 21

Thu, 22 May 2008 13:11:59 -0400

The University of Maryland Heart Center is the title sponsor of the inaugural Baltimore 10-Miler, to take place on Saturday, June 21 at 7:30 a.m. inside Druid Hill Park near the Maryland Zoo.

University of Maryland Study Finds That Minimally Invasive Robotic Bypass Surgery Provides Health and Economic Benefits

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:27:15 -0400

Minimally invasive heart bypass surgery using a DaVinci robot means a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery for patients, as well as fewer complications and a better chance that the new bypass vessels will stay open. And, according to a University of Maryland study, robotic heart bypass surgery also makes good economic sense for hospitals. The study will be presented at the American Surgical Association on April 26, 2008.

Joseph Shepherd Calls His Heart Transplant at UMMC an "Absolute Miracle"

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 15:41:37 -0400

In early 2007 Joseph Shepherd was close to death because of congestive heart failure. He could barely walk across a room without becoming short of breath.

But then UMMC cardiologist Stephen Gottlieb M.D., who was treating Shepherd, recommended him for a transplant, which Medical Center cardiac surgeon James Gammie, M.D., performed on February 17, 2007.

Now, 11 months later, Shepherd is back to his normal activities, which include playing golf several times a week. He calls his transplant and recovery at the Medical Center an 'absolute miracle'.

81-Year-Old Woman has a "New Love of Live" After Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 15:40:49 -0400

An 81-Year-Old Woman shares her experiences from finding out she had aortic stenosis through having minimally invasive aortic valve replacement surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

She credits the surgical team and staff with giving her a new love of live and a second chance at happiness.

Lowering Triglycerides and "Bad Cholesterol" Reduces Heart Disease Risk Better than Reducing Bad Cholesterol Alone

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:20:52 -0400

In order to reduce the risk of heart attack and other acute heart problems, it may be best to lower elevated triglyceride, a blood fat, together with LDL cholesterol, the so-called “bad” cholesterol, rather than lowering LDL alone. That is the conclusion of a study published February 12, 2008, in the online version of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The print version of the journal will come out on February 19.

Advanced Imaging Enhances Treatment of Heart Rhythm Abnormality at the University of Maryland Medical Center

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:20:30 -0400

Cardiologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore are among the first in the world to combine advanced three-dimensional PET/CT imaging with standard techniques to treat ventricular tachycardia, a life-threatening electrical disorder that causes the heart to beat too fast. The imaging component offers the potential to improve precision and patient safety, reduce treatment time and boost the success rate of ablation therapy, which uses high-energy radio waves to redirect the heart’s electrical pathway to prevent abnormal heart rhythms.

Have a Heart-Related Question? Ask a UM Heart Center Expert

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:25:13 -0400

Get answers to your important heart-related questions with the help of our UM Heart Center experts. Our free Ask the Expert feature connects you with physicians at the University of Maryland Heart Center, who can answer questions on a variety of heart-related topics.

Please note that our doctors cannot provide a diagnosis, or referrals to other doctors, via e-mail.

Pencil-Sized Investigational Heart Pump Allows Heart to Heal After Surgery

Thu, 3 Jan 2008 15:40:06 -0400

An investigational heart pump may enable people with severely weak hearts to recover from needed heart surgery. Cardiac surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore are the first in the region to implant the new type of pump, which is designed to give the heart a short-term rest after cardiac surgery. The device, the Abiomed Impella 5.0, has been implanted in three patients at the medical center so far, as part of a four-center, 20-patient pilot study. The first Maryland patient, a 43-year-old man from Germantown, needed just two days on the pump to restore a strong heartbeat after he had double coronary bypass surgery and a procedure to correct an abnormal heart rhythm.

University of Maryland Medical Center is Recognized as one of Nation's Top Hospitals for Cardiovascular Care

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:40:52 -0400

The University of Maryland Medical Center is one of the nation’s top, standard-setting teaching hospitals for cardiovascular care, according to the newly released 100 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by Thomson Healthcare for 2007.

Thomson’s national Benchmarks for Success study looked at eight objective performance criteria to develop its list of best hospitals, including clinical processes and outcomes, patient safety, efficiency, financial performance and growth in patient volumes. Thomson evaluated hospital performance in treating acute heart attack, congestive heart failure, coronary artery bypass surgery and percutaneous coronary intervention (angioplasty).

First-in-Maryland Combined Heart and Liver Transplants Performed at the University of Maryland Medical Center

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:41:38 -0400

Transplant surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore are the first in Maryland to perform a combined heart and liver transplant. The two organs were transplanted in a 33-year-old man from Oxon Hill, Md., during a ten-and-a-half hour procedure on October 15, 2007. A total of 15 people in two transplant teams participated in this rare combination transplant. Data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network indicate that only 53 of these heart-liver transplants have been performed in the United States since 1992.

University of Maryland Study Compares Three Popular Diets for Risk of Cardiovascular Problems

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:42:34 -0400

Three popular diets, the Atkins, South Beach and Ornish, may all help you take off weight, but which one puts you at higher risk of heart disease after only one month?

Michael Miller, M.D., director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore and associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and a team of researchers compared the three diets for their impact on cholesterol, their effect on the lining of blood vessels and the presence of inflammation associated with hardening of the arteries

Rare Aortic Valve Surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center Restores Health to Man Who was Barely Alive

Tue, 2 Oct 2007 17:20:39 -0400

Cardiac surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Center have revived and modified a rare, aortic valve bypass procedure for older, high-risk patients whose blocked aortic valve has caused life-threatening symptoms of shortness of breath, fainting or chest pain. In a recent case, they successfully treated an 87-year-old man who had been told he had, at most, two weeks to live.

University of Maryland Medical Center Leaps onto Exclusive List of Nation's Top 41 Hospitals for Safety and Quality

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:22:39 -0400

In recognition of its top levels of performance in patient safety and quality of care, the University of Maryland Medical Center has been named for the second year in a row to the Leapfrog Group’s elite list of the nation’s best acute-care hospitals. The Leapfrog Group uses objective criteria to rate hospitals based on outcomes and patient volume for selected high-risk procedures in addition to staffing levels and specific measures taken to ensure patient safety.

The Leapfrog Group survey is the most complete, up-to-date assessment of hospital quality and safety. This year’s list includes only 41 hospitals (33 general acute care hospitals and eight children’s hospitals), while last year there were 50 hospitals. Leapfrog added new and more stringent measurements for its 2007 Top Hospitals list, and some hospitals that were on last year’s list did not satisfy this year’s criteria. The University of Maryland Medical Center was among 1,285 hospitals that submitted data and documentation for the 2007 Leapfrog Hospital Quality and Safety Survey.

UMMC Ranked Among the Nation's 50 best Heart Centers in U.S. News and World Report's 2007 America's Best Hospitals issue.

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:25:45 -0400

The University of Maryland Medical Center ranked among the nation's 50 best heart centers in U.S. News and World Report's 2007 America's Best Hospitals issue.

Locally and nationally respected as a forerunner in medical and surgical techniques, the University of Maryland Heart Center is a regional referral center for the most difficult cardiac cases. It offers a variety of services, including the latest diagnostic, medical and surgical procedures for high-risk patients.

UM Heart Center Leaders Create Innovations in Patient Care and Research

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:00:05 -0400

Heart patients are benefiting from an explosion in new patient care innovations and research initiatives at the University of Maryland Heart Center, driven by two internationally renowned cardiac care specialists, both recognized clinical and research leaders.

New Approach to Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation Boosts Success Rate by 30%

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 10:58:26 -0400

Cardiologists at the University of Maryland Heart Center’s heart rhythm service have joined with the University of Maryland Medical Center’s nuclear medicine and radiology departments to bring real-time imaging into the electrophysiology laboratory. They have combined highly detailed PET/CT and IR images with traditional catheter-based mapping to determine where to apply radiofrequency ablation. (Radiofrequency ablation destroys scar tissue on the underside of the heart that may cause electrical abnormalities in ventricular tachycardia.) The addition of imaging speeds up the process, enhances accuracy, and improves success rates. In fact, the imaging component has helped boost the success rate of the procedure from 50 percent nationally to 80 percent.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Provides Superior Images of Blood Vessels

Fri, 18 May 2007 11:33:00 -0400

The University of Maryland Medical Center is using a new technique -- known as Optical Coherence Tomography – that uses infrared light to determine the quality of the blood vessels used to create bypass grafts during coronary artery bypass surgery. This technique also provides important feedback to the surgical team about the quality of the connection between the vein and the coronary artery.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a novel imaging tool that allows the surgeon to see inside blood vessels like never before. It works in much the same way as ultrasound except that it uses infrared light instead of sound waves.

Maryland Heart Center Patient Success Stories

Fri, 18 May 2007 11:31:58 -0400

The Maryland Heart Center is recognized as a regional leader in providing advanced cardiac treatment for adults and children. Meet some of our patients and read about their life-changing experiences.

Listen to Podcasts from University of Maryland Heart Center Experts

Tue, 8 May 2007 12:16:27 -0400

Our Medically Speaking podcasts are informative discussions with medical experts from the University of Maryland Heart Center and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Each podcast is approximately 10 minutes in length and covers a different heart-related topic.

University of Maryland Surgeons Use Innovative Approach to Repair Torn Aorta Resulting from Trauma

Mon, 9 Apr 2007 14:39:02 -0400

Surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Center are using an innovative approach to save the lives of trauma patients who have a torn aorta, a life-threatening injury that can occur after a high-speed car crash. A tear in the aorta, which is the body’s main artery, is a life-threatening situation. The surgeons have successfully repaired this type of injury, called an aortic transection, in more than 20 patients at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, without making any chest incision, using a minimally invasive approach called an endovascular repair.

University of Maryland Researchers Find Heart Disease in a Marathon Runner: Is Too Much Exercise a Bad Thing?

Mon, 9 Apr 2007 14:37:42 -0400

Doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center had a mystery on their hands. A 51-year-old physician colleague who looked the picture of health—no cardiovascular risks, a marathon runner who had exercised vigorously each day for 30 years—had just flunked a calcium screening scan of his heart.

The patient had expected a score indicating a healthy cardiovascular system. Instead, the images indicated a high score: a build-up of calcium in his coronary arteries put him at high risk for blocked blood vessels and a possible heart attack.

Unique Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair Patient Success Story

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:29:30 -0400

Learn mitral valve repair patient Leon Cosby's success story by watching interviews with him, his family and University of Maryland Medical Center experts.

Minimally Invasive, Robot-Assisted Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery with Stented Angioplasty Surgical Webcast on February 28

Fri, 9 Feb 2007 09:44:36 -0400

On February 28, 2007 at 4:00pm EST, watch the premiere showing of a very unique surgical webcast from the University of Maryland Heart Center in Baltimore. See for yourself an operation called the HYBRID.

This is an innovative approach to double or triple vessel coronary artery disease that combines minimally-invasive, robotic coronary artery bypass surgery with stented angioplasty, performed in just one operation. The University of Maryland Medical Center is among the first hospitals in the U.S. to offer this combined surgery with the use of robotic technology.

New Imaging Technique Determines Quality of Blood Vessels Used in Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Fri, 9 Feb 2007 09:46:55 -0400

80-Year-Old Patient With Severe Aortic Stenosis Grateful for Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery

Tue, 5 Dec 2006 15:54:14 -0400

Just weeks after having a minimally invasive aortic valve replacement surgery at the University of Maryland Heart Center, 80-year-old William Wisener can notice the improvement in his heart. He breathes easier and he acknowledges that his circulation has improved because he no longer has tingling in his fingers or stiffness in his hips.

Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery Webcast on December 5

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 12:33:06 -0400

UM cardiac surgeon Jamie Brown is featured in a minimally invasive aortic valve replacement surgical Webcast that will air on December 5, 2006 at 4 p.m. EST.

During this webcast, you will be able to watch as Dr. Brown uses a tissue valve to replace the valve in an older patient with a severely blocked valve. Dr. Brown uses a minimally invasive technique to access the heart's valve. This translates into less pain and a faster recovery for the patient.

Routine Heart Screening and Subsequent Treatment Saves the Life of Sandra Unitas

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 12:33:58 -0400

In preparing for a talk about the importance for women to have regular heart disease screenings, Sandra Unitas, the wife of the NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas, decided to have a screening done herself.

During this screening, Mandeep Mehra, M.D., the UM Medical Center's head of cardiology, discovered a coronary artery with severe blockage. Dr. Mehra subsequently performed a procedure where he inserted a stent in the blocked portion of the artery to increase blood flow. Unitas credits the screening and surgical procedure with probably saving her life.

UM's Head of Cardiology Led Task Force that Created New Guidelines for Selecting Heart Transplant Patients

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 16:00:52 -0400

Dr. Mandeep Mehra, head of cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center, led a task force, assembled by the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, to write the first set of uniform, science-based guidelines for selecting transplant patients.

University of Maryland Medical Center First in Maryland to Perform Robotic Assisted Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 16:02:44 -0400

The University of Maryland Medical Center is the first and only hospital in Maryland to perform the robotic assisted minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery.
Robotic assisted minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery eliminates the need for a large (6-10 inch) incision made down the sternum (breastbone) to access the heart, which reduces a patient's surgical trauma. Other potential patient benefits include: less pain and scarring, less bleeding and need for blood transfusions, lower risk of infection and other complications like stroke and shorter hospital stays.

UM Cardiac Surgeons Find Algorithm Effective in Deciding Between On Pump and Off Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 15:55:13 -0400

The results of a study in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery that looks at the use of a decision-making algorithm to decide between on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery, conducted by cardiac surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.

Study Compares Niacin Plus Statin vs. Statin Alone to Delay Heart Disease

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 13:20:52 -0400

University of Maryland Medical Center cardiologists are studying whether adding a form of long-acting niacin to one of the most common cholesterol lowering drugs do a better job of delaying the onset of heart attack, stroke, blocked arteries or death from cardiovascular disease. The study, called AIM-HIGH, is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind clinical trial that compares a combination of extended-release niacin plus simvastatin to simvastatin alone.

University of Maryland Medical Center's Coronary Care Unit Reduces Noise Pollution With New "Quiet Hour"

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 13:22:36 -0400

The University of Maryland Medical Center's Coronary Care Unit (CCU) has developed a daily “quiet hour” in the afternoons and is trying to reduce noise overall.

The quiet hour involves closing patient’s doors, dimming their lights and placing a “Do Not Disturb” sign on their doors. The unit staff dims the lights, turns down the telemetry alarm volume and disengages the automatic doors. There are no overhead pages, deliveries or non-emergency procedures permitted.

Genetic Variation Found that Predicts Response to Heart Failure Medication

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 11:40:04 -0400

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore and the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver have identified a common genetic variation that could help determine whether a person with heart failure would benefit from beta-blockers, a class of drugs used to treat chronic heart failure. The findings are significant because it often takes several months to determine if a specific beta blocker is working for a patient. Time is of the essence because one in five patients with heart failure will die within a year of diagnosis.

New Cardiac Imaging System at the UM Medical Center Rapidly Pinpoints Optimum Therapy

Tue, 16 May 2006 10:57:35 -0400

The University of Maryland Medical Center is one of the first hospitals in the country to diagnose heart disease using a new type of advanced imaging system. The system, called rubidium PET/CT scanning, combines Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with Computed Tomography (CT) angiography. In less than an hour, this noninvasive imaging technology helps doctors make a precise diagnosis, which is the first step for providing excellent patient care.

Joseph Rouse Now Walks Two Miles a Day After Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery

Wed, 19 Apr 2006 10:45:08 -0400

Joseph Rouse suffered from aortic stenosis for years, but following minimally invasive aortic valve replacement surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center, he's able to walk two miles a day and feels great.

Innovations in Heart Surgery: An Interview with Bartley Griffith, M.D.

Mon, 20 Mar 2006 16:54:33 -0400

New technology is revolutionizing the way surgeons treat heart problems. Internationally known heart surgeon Bartley Griffith, M.D., the chief of cardiac surgery at University of Maryland Medical Center and professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, talks about the exciting advances that have occurred and the positive impact these have had on patient care.

The Truth about Low-Fat Diets: An Interview with UM Cardiologist Michael Miller

Mon, 20 Mar 2006 16:52:31 -0400

A recent U.S. government study has found that a low-fat diet does not significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer, heart disease or stroke and does not reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in postmenopausal women.

So what does it all mean? Cardiologist Michael Miller, M.D., director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and an associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, answers questions about the study results and its implications.

Minimally Invasive Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Repair Surgical Webcast

Fri, 17 Feb 2006 15:01:53 -0400

Watch University of Maryland Medical Center surgeons perform a thoracic aortic endograft, a minimally-invasive surgery used to repair a thoracic aortic aneurysm.

Until recently, patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms would have needed open surgery for repair – which included a large chest incision and the temporary clamping of the aorta. Now, experienced vascular surgeons can use just one small incision during a minimally-invasive procedure to place a high-tech device inside the aorta, relieving the aneurysm from pressure.

CryoMaze Procedure (to Treat Atrial Fibrillation) Surgical Webcast

Fri, 17 Feb 2006 14:57:39 -0400

Watch University of Maryland Medical Center cardiac surgeon James Gammie perform a CryoMaze procedure to treat atrial fibrillation.

"Heart Month" Story Ideas

Fri, 17 Feb 2006 14:54:21 -0400

Learn about some recent advances in heart disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment from experts at the Maryland Heart Center.

The Inequality of Heart Disease: What Women Should Know

Thu, 12 Jan 2006 17:23:34 -0400

While studies show that women are far less likely than men to be tested or treated for heart disease, the UM Heart Center's team of female cardiologists gives women reason to take heart.

Maryland Heart Center Virtual Tour

Tue, 6 Dec 2005 12:23:07 -0400

Learn more about the Maryland Heart Center's facilities and services by taking our virtual tour.

Aortic Valve Stenosis Patient "Amazed" at Feeling After Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery