Penn Heart and Vascular Update | Penn Medicine

Penn Medicine Hosts International Electrophysiologists

2013-05-17T14:00:00.000-04:00

Left to right: Chandrasekaran Kolandaisamy, Frank Marchlinski, Po-ching Chi, Chan Chao-Shun

International specialists and fellows in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias visited the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) this week. The guests from Japan, India, Taiwan and Australia visited the hospital following the annual Heart Rhythm Society meeting in Denver, Colorado.

Po-Ching Chi, MD, and Chan Chao-Shun, MD, clinical research fellows from the National Yang Ming University in Taiwan were among the many visitors. “Dr. Marchlinski's group is well-known as the best ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation center with the highest volume of patients and the most advanced VT ablation skills,” says Po-Ching Chi. “It was an opportunity that we could not miss to be clinical observers here.”

Frank Marchlinksi, MD, director of the cardiac electrophysiology program at HUP, says, “At the heart of science and medicine is the open exchange of new ideas and techniques. It is an honor to host these international experts and fellows in the electrophysiology community and to share and learn from them.”

The electrophysiology program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is a leading center in the nation for the treatment and research of cardiac arrhythmias. Each year, hundreds of the world’s leading electrophysiologists attend events hosted by the group to learn about the latest advances in the science and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.

Penn Heart and Vascular Celebrates Nurses Week

2013-05-10T17:49:00.000-04:00

It’s National Nurses Week and, at Penn Heart & Vascular, our nurses are an integral part of making our care extraordinary.

Read more from just one of our extraordinary nurses, Amy B. Marzolf, MSN, CRNP, a Heart Failure Coordinator at the Penn Heart & Vascular Center. Amy talks a bit about the importance of outpatient nursing, care provided to patients who are not physically in the hospital, as just one of the critical pieces of the care cardiovascular patients receive at Penn Medicine.

From an outpatient perspective the nursing care patients receive is critical. We triage urgent calls, recognize early symptoms, follow up on plans of care, and monitor patients often over the phone for disease progression. In reality the outpatient nurses have a dynamic group of highly skilled, highly trained providers who are unbelievably talented at caring for patients when not even being able to physically see them on a daily basis. Having a team that is not only working hard when the patients are admitted, but dedicated to quality outpatient care is the key to reducing readmissions, preventing disease progression, advancing treatments, and fostering overall improved health and a better quality of life for the patients. Working with heart failure patients we understand the complexity of living with a chronic illness. It requires daily work that does not end when the patient leaves the hospital. It only just begins. As a heart failure nurse and now nurse practitioner I am able to support my patients throughout the spectrum of their illness.

At Penn Medicine, we are exceptionally proud of the nursing team at our three hospitals, and within our network. And in fact, the nursing care is recognized not only by our own teams, but also on a national level. The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) has achieved Magnet status – the highest institutional honor awarded for nursing excellence – from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Being recognized as a Magnet hospital is one of the highest achievements an organization can obtain in the world of professional nursing.

To all of our Heart & Vascular nurses - Thank you for everything you do, for your work as educators, researchers and care givers.

Penn Patient Stories: How Patricia Overcame Heart Failure

2013-05-07T15:48:00.000-04:00

"A seriously incorrect diagnosis at another hospital led me to Penn...and a great surgeon who returns emails."
– Patricia Brough, 68 and proud grandmother of five

About 11 years ago, I was getting totally out of breath just walking to my car after work. I figured I was 57 at the time, and I told myself I'm just getting old, you know. Then one night I woke up totally unable to breathe and I went to the emergency room at my local hospital in New Jersey.

Their diagnosis? Asthma. No problem, go home, they said.

The next day I spoke to my son and he suggested I get a second opinion since I had never had asthma before. We decided to go to Penn because my dad always used to say, 'why go to the foot soldiers in NJ when you can go over the bridge to the generals at Penn?'

So I looked on the Internet and found Dr. Acker, a heart surgeon at Penn Medicine. I emailed him that day and within an hour, he personally emailed me back and referred me to a Penn cardiologist, Dr. Mariell Jessup. I called Dr. Jessup and she got me in right away, ran all kinds of tests and diagnosed me with heart failure. Basically, I needed a mitral valve replacement almost immediately – it wasn't asthma at all.

Thankfully, within the week, I had that surgery at Penn, and all was fine for years.

Then, in 2010, I suddenly got this terrible toothache and went to the hospital. To my surprise, it was a symptom of a heart attack. Once again, I had a pacemaker and defibrillator put in at Penn. Since then, I'm feeling great. I've been horseback riding and parasailing. I do everything I used to do, and more. I've gotten to see three of my grandchildren being born. I walk two miles a day. All because over a decade ago, Dr. Acker—someone who didn't even know me—answered my email. Penn saved my life.

Read more patient stories, explore your options with a Penn cardiovascular specialist and and get the facts:
Go With Your Heart

Treating Adult Congenital Heart Disease

2013-05-03T12:15:00.000-04:00

Today, babies born with a heart defect have their best chance in history of surviving. But what happens when they grow up?

Ali Gorman R.N., 6 ABC's Action News Health & Medical reporter, speaks with Dr. Yuli Kim, Director of Penn Medicine's Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center, and Amy Verstappen of the Adult Congenital Heart Association.

In this feature story about congenital heart disease, Amy Verstappen tells 6 ABC that when she was born, doctors knew right away there was a problem. She had a congenital heart defect and like many, she was treated and then told all is well. As an adult, she continued to be told that there was no longer a problem with her heart. But shortly after giving birth, her heart started to fail.

A report from the Journal of the American Medical Association shows she's not alone. The report reads: "The frequency of hospitalizations for adults with congenital heart disease has grown at a rate more than twice that of children." That's why Amy started the Adult Congenital Heart Association.

Dr. Yuli Kim of Penn Medicine is one of only about 100 doctors nationwide formally trained to treat adult congenital heart disease.

Congenital heart conditions are different in adults than in children. Likewise, patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) experience cardiac problems differently than adults with acquired heart disease. That is why Penn Medicine and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) joined forces to create the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program.The program offers a team specially trained in the complex anatomy and heart function of adults with CHD, as well as the broad array of services and education necessary to manage their long-term complications.

Watch the video interview and read more on Action News.

Learn more about congenital heart disease and the Penn/CHOP Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program.

A Runner's Heart Healed

2013-02-15T12:42:00.000-05:00

Penn patient completes a 12k after open-heart surgery

In April 2009, Elliot Gordon was training for the Boston Marathon, what would have been his 43rd such race. But on the morning of April 5, out of the blue, the usually healthy Gordon started to feel dizzy at his home in Princeton Junction, NJ. Within moments, he passed out.

Elliot was suffering from an aortic dissection. This serious heart condition results from a small tear in the inner wall of the aorta, causing blood to flow between the layers of the wall of the aorta and force the layers apart. If the dissection tears the aorta completely open (through all three layers), immense and rapid blood loss occurs.

Emergency Heart Surgery

After being rushed to a local hospital, it was determined that he needed emergency heart surgery. He was transferred to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP).

At HUP, Joseph Bavaria, MD, vice chief, Division of Cardiovascular Surgery and director, Thoracic Aortic Surgery Program, performed an open-heart procedure to have Gordon’s torn aorta removed and replaced with a synthetic graft.

"He needed an urgent intervention and the surgery itself is high risk," says Dr. Bavaria. "Half of patients suffering from an aortic dissection die before they even reach the hospital."

Thankfully for Gordon, Dr. Bavaria and the HUP OR team have extensive experience in complex aortic surgeries, with outcomes ranking among the best in the nation. After being rushed from the emergency transport, he was taken directly to the OR, where Dr. Bavaria and his team were able to accurately assess the situation and begin the operation.

His heart was in good hands

Despite the grim odds, after several hours in surgery, he was transferred to the Heart & Vascular Intensive Care Unit to recover.

“The surgeons said I survived because my body was in such good shape. Had I not been training for Boston, I would have died.”

Gordon was not out of the woods yet. His recovery was difficult; he was on dialysis for about six months. Fortunately for Gordon, he was being cared for by a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team lead by cardiovascular surgery anesthesia intensivists, and received around-the-clock comprehensive care.

After a month and a half in the hospital, he was released in May 2009. He was 25 pounds lighter and because he was already so lean from decades of running, there wasn’t much fat to lose in the first place. The loss was all muscle -- he couldn’t get out of bed, couldn’t stand, couldn’t walk.

Heart Healthy and Running Again

He was given the okay to try light running again after six months, but it took over a year before he was finally able to jog slowly. In his first attempts back on a treadmill, he had many difficulties. But he was determined to get back to the sport he so loved and had dedicated decades of his life to.

On November 20, 2010 he ran his first “return” 8k since the operation. A year later, on November 12, 2011, he ran a 12k race. And in November 2012, Elliot signed up for the Philadelphia Marathon to run the half marathon. “Not very many people could, or would even attempt, to run a half marathon after this type of procedure,” says Dr. Bavaria. “His surgery went so well that it enabled him to keep going with his running. He really is a miracle man.”

February is Heart Month: Reduce your Risk for Heart Disease

2013-02-13T15:01:00.000-05:00

Every 34 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack, and each minute someone dies from a heart-disease related event.

To combat cardiovascular disease and educate the public about how to decrease their risk, Congress and the American Heart Association have proclaimed February to be American Heart Month.

There are many risk factors for heart disease, but the following are holding steady or even increasing.

Heart Disease Risk Factors:

Obesity

The percentage of overweight individuals, both adults and children, has been rising for several decades:

33.3 percent of adults are overweight
35.7 percent of adults are obese
17 percent of children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 are obese
12.1 percent of children ages 2 through 5 are overweight

Smoking

Raises the risk of coronary heart disease, and it remains highly prevalent:

Smokers are 2-4 times more likely to develop heart disease
More than 46 million U.S. adults are daily smokers
About 4,000 people ages 12 to 17 begin smoking every day

Diabetes

It is projected that the prevalence of diabetes will continue to rise:

1.9 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people 20 years or older in 2010
79 million people have prediabetes, which greatly increases the risk of diabetes

If you are concerned about your heart health, Penn Medicine has advanced, personalized cardiovascular risk assessments, which include:

Atherosclerosis imaging
Genetic testing
Advanced lipid testing
24-hour blood pressure monitoring

Learn about Penn Medicine's
personalized cardiovascular risk assessments

Heart Disease Risk Factors and Prevention Infographic

2013-02-01T12:50:00.000-05:00

Learn more about Penn Medicine's Preventive Cariovascular Program on our website.

Signs of Heart Disease in Women and What are the Signs of a Heart Attack

2013-01-25T12:59:00.000-05:00

February is all about hearts…from Valentine’s Day to American Heart Month. However, while one is a reference to a romantic and commercial holiday, the other is a more serious matter. One that women in particular need to pay close attention to: the prevention, causes, symptoms and treatment of heart disease.

Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the US for both men and women. Heart disease, in all its forms, is responsible for over 400,000 deaths a year among women – more than all forms of cancer combined. And although new research on the importance of heart-healthy diets, exercise and quitting smoking have decreased heart disease rates among men in the past 30 years, the rate for women hasn’t budged, according to a new report from the National Institute of Nursing.

Here, we will address the most important questions and issues to help women become more heart smart.

Q: What exactly is “heart” or “cardiovascular disease?”
Heart or cardiovascular disease is a blanket term that actually covers different diseases of the heart and vascular systems of the body. The types of heart disease are:

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common form of heart disease. CAD is caused when the coronary arteries that supply the heart with oxygen and nutrients become narrowed or clogged. This can cause chest pain (angina), heart attack (myocardial infarction) and even sudden death.
Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is weakened and is longer able to pump blood effectively. The most common symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue or swelling of the legs. Congestive heart failure is often the result of damage to the heart muscle caused by a heart attack.
Cardiac arrhythmia, or abnormal heart beat, can be health-threatening if it keeps the heart from pumping efficiently. If this is the case, then an arrhythmia can contribute to congestive heart failure or even cause sudden cardiac death.
Stroke is caused when blood vessels bringing blood to the brain become narrowed or clogged.
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is very similar but occurs in the arteries of the legs.
Valvular disease referes to damaged or malfunctioning valves of the heart, and an aneurysm, is the abnormal widening, or bulging of an artery due to a weakened arterial wall from severely clogged and hardened arteries.

Q: What is a heart attack?
Coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. If blood flow to part of the heart is blocked long enough and the heart is starved of oxygen, heart cells dies and that part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies, resulting in a heart attack – more formally known as myocardial infarction.

Q. How prevalent is heart disease in women in the US?
According to the American Heart Association, more than one in three female adults has some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Beginning in 1984, the number of CVD deaths for females began to exceeded those for males. Research shows that women who have heart attacks are more likely to die within a year of the event compared to men, and a whopping 64 percent of women who died of sudden cardiac events had no previous symptoms.

Q. What are the symptoms of a heart attack?
Recognizing the symptoms of heart attack in women may not always be as clear-cut as it is for men. The most prominent symptoms which are sure signs of trouble that women should keep an eye out for are:

Pressure, tightness, fullness and discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or it comes and goes in waves
Pain or pressure that spreads to the shoulders, between the shoulder blades, neck, upper back, jaw, or arms
Jaw or throat pain
Crushing chest pain
Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
Nausea and/or dizziness
Cold sweat, paleness
Overwhelming fatigue or weakness
Abdominal pain

Women often mistakenly think only severe chest pain is a symptom of a heart attack and delay seeking medical care. I’ve heard many patients who feel that doctors either didn’t take them or their symptoms seriously. Be persistent. You know your body and when you aren’t feeling well. Seek the medical attention you need and deserve.

Q. What should you do if you think you’re having a heart attack?
Is it heart burn? A pulled muscle? Fatigue? Just what is that pain and what does it mean? It’s important for women to be aware of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, but even more important – don’t wait for the pain to pass. Seek help. Unfortunately though, woman can experience the full gamut of symptoms or only one or two. The only way to know for sure if you’ve had a heart attack is to be examined by a physician and undergo testing, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG).

If you think you’re having heart attack seek help immediately and call 911. Don’t take a chance and try driving yourself to a hospital since you run the risk of losing consciousness. Tell the 911 operator and tell the paramedics that you are experiencing heart attack symptoms. Don’t be afraid to be firm. A 2009 Penn Medicine study showed that there definite gender disparities in pre-hospital care and that women with chest pain are less likely than men to receive proper treatment from paramedics. Once at the hospital, make sure you get an ECG and/or blood enzyme test to see if you are having a heart attack.

The Penn Heart Rescue Program at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center has has provided emergency cardiac care to more than 1,200 patients. When compared to benchmarks, the Penn Heart Rescue program shows a significant reduction in mortality rates.

VIDEO: Heart Transplant Patient Shares Her Story

2012-12-04T12:11:00.000-05:00


Tangee at her New Jersey home with her mom.

Tangee lived with heart failure for more than 15 years. After moving to New Jersey, she began looking for the best cardiologists in Philadelphia and found Mariell Jessup, MD, medical director of the Penn Heart and Vascular Center.

As Tangee’s heart continued to deteriorate, Dr. Jessup advised her that a heart transplant may be her best treatment option. Tangee agreed and now, years later, feels better than she has felt in a long time.

Watch this heart transplant patient story on YouTube

An Inside Look at the Second Generation of TAVR, or TAVI, Aortic Valve Devices

2012-11-20T09:52:00.001-05:00

Physicians with Penn Medicine’s Heart Valve Disease Program are studying the next generation of treatment for patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Aortic valve stenosis occurs when the heart’s largest valve begins to harden and narrow. Aortic stenosis eventually causes the heart to become weaker, increasing the risk of heart failure.

For patients with severe symptoms of aortic stenosis, an aortic valve replacement is usually required. For many years, aortic valve replacements were only placed through open-heart surgery. But thanks in part to research performed at Penn, doctors have had great success with new minimally invasive and catheter-based approaches to aortic valve replacements.

Penn Medicine has one of the largest transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) programs in the country and its surgeons are now participating in the follow-up study to the original trials that proved the safety and effectiveness of the original TAVR devices. Called the PARTNER II trial, Penn cardiovascular surgeons are testing the second generation of TAVR therapy using a smaller profile delivery system.

Cardiology Today magazine went behind the scenes at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania to see how the PARTNER II trial is progressing.

Read about the next generation of transcatheter aortic valve replacements at Cardiology Today

Penn Presbyterian Medical Center named “50 Top Cardiovascular Hospital”

2012-11-16T09:14:00.000-05:00

Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (PPMC) has been named as one of the nation’s “50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals” by Truven Health Analytics, formerly known as the Healthcare Business of Thomson Reuters.

The 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals annual report identifies the nation's top hospitals performing cardiovascular services. The honorees are selected from more than 1,000 hospitals across the country.

The honor recognizes Penn Presbyterian’s consistent leadership and quality in cardiology and cardiac surgery. Patients come to PPMC from across the region – more than half of the hospital’s cardiac inpatients travel from New Jersey and Delaware. Penn Presbyterian is recognized for expertise in:

Complex arrhythmia management
Interventional cardiology
Noninvasive cardiology and cardiac imaging
Preventive cardiology
Vascular medicine and endovascular therapy
Women’s heart health

In addition to routine heart operations, PPMC’s cardiovascular surgeons also perform coronary artery bypass in high-risk patients, complex aortic surgery, heart valve repair and minimally invasive robotic-assisted cardiac surgery.

In addition to routine heart operations, PPMC’s cardiovascular surgeons also perform coronary artery bypass in high-risk patients, complex aortic surgery, heart valve repair and minimally invasive robotic-assisted cardiac surgery.

According to Harvey Waxman, MD, chief of cardiology at PPMC, the staff adheres to a process of continuous improvement to reduce surgical complications. For nearly a decade, PPMC has been continually refining processes to reduce wound infection rates in heart surgery patients. Even though the rate has been below 1 percent for the past several years, the staff wants to do better.

“Our goal is zero,” Waxman says.

See a complete listing of winners and a report summary.

Video: Psoriasis and Heart Disease - It's More Than Skin Deep

2012-10-31T17:20:00.000-04:00

While many people believe that psoriasis is a skin condition, researchers at Penn Medicine have shown a link between psoriasis and heart disease.

In this video, Nehal Mehta, MD, Penn cardiologist and researcher, explains the link between psoriasis and heart disease and how it impacts people with this skin condition.

If you or someone you love has psoriasis and would like to be evaluated by a cardiologist, please contact the Preventive Cardiovascular Program by calling 800-789-PENN. Visit pennmedicine.org for more information about the Preventive Cardiovascular Program at Penn Medicine.

Why Will You Walk in the Philadelphia Heart Walk?

2012-10-24T11:25:00.000-04:00

The 2012 Philly Heart Walk is almost here. See why Penn Medicine team captain Luann Brady is proud to walk in this year’s Philly Heart Walk. Tell us why you are participating in this year's Heart Walk by leaving a comment below.

Sign up for the Philly Heart Walk today!

or Learn more about this year's Heart Walk

Announcing the Penn Medicine Heart Walk Fundraising Challenge

2012-10-17T11:10:00.002-04:00

One lucky Penn Heart Walker will win a Kindle Fire HD, and it can easily be you!

Here's how you can win:

Send emails to your friends, families and colleagues asking them to donate to your Heart Walk webpage
Raise the most money online between Monday, October 22 and Wednesday, October 31
Win a brand new Kindle Fire HD!

The Penn Heart Walker who raises the most money online between October 22 and October 31 will win a Kindle Fire HD. All Penn employees, and anyone else raising funds online towards Penn's goal, are eligible to join the competition. You must be registered as a Penn Heart Walk team member to participate.

The winner will be announced on Friday, November 2.

If you have any questions on how to fundraise online, you may contact Kate Balog or visit Penn’s H&V blog on “15 Simple Fundraising Ideas.”

15 Simple Fundraising Ideas for the 2012 Philly Heart Walk

2012-09-26T11:12:00.003-04:00

The Philadelphia Heart Walk is a little over a month away. Are you still looking for some creative ways to raise money for your Heart Walk team? Don’t let your fundraising goals slip out of reach. Try some of these simple solutions today:

In the office:

Super box: Ask your coworkers and friends, to put their extra change in a "Super Box." You can place this box near the water cooler or kitchen. When you get the box back you will have lots of money! Decorate the box or cover it with inspirational quotes or designs. This is a great opportunity to do arts and crafts with colleagues during lunch or even after hours. You could also translate this idea at home and encourage your relatives and friends to donate.

Voice mail: Change your voice mail and answering machine messages to include information about your participation in the Heart Walk and let people know how they can help. Tell your friends, family and colleagues to visit PennMedicine.org/heartwalk for all the info they need!

Add a note to your electronic signature: Get in the habit of signing your emails with your name followed by heart walk donation information.
Example: Help me raise money for the American Heart Association (AHA) and its fight against stroke and heart disease! Donate to my team now (link to team page) Or link to Penn’s main heart page for more information: PennMedicine.org/heartwalk.

Healthy bake sale: Earn money selling 100 calorie cookies, peanut butter crackers, veggies and dip or fruit cups. Of course, you don’t have to be healthy about it.

Flea market: Have coworkers bring in their junk to work and sell it. Donate all proceeds to your fundraising efforts for the Heart Walk.

Raffles and donations: Hit up some local restaurants to donate a lunch when your team has reached your team’s fundraising goal and host a departmental lunch. Ask a vendor your regularly work with if they’d be willing to donate something to raffle off, with all proceeds going toward your ultimate fundraising goal.

At home:

E-mail your friends: E-mail everyone on your contact list and invite them to visit your team page.

Eagles football party: Host an Eagles football party at your house/apartment. Every time the words ’run’ or 'walk' are said by the announcers, everyone antes up $1 in a pledge bowl.

Social media: Join Penn’s Heart Walk 2012 Facebook event page and create daily comments to help start a conversation. Or write daily or weekly posts to rally your friends. Follow the AHA on Twitter does AHA have a hashtag for the walk? It should be included or tweet about the upcoming event on your own page.

Game night: Host a game or karaoke night and charge an admission of $5 per person. Ask your friends and guests to help supply the punch and snacks for the evening. This can make for a family fun way to raise money!

In the community:

Change jar at local restaurants: Ask your favorite restaurant to put out a jar for donations of spare change.

Happy hour: Wear your Heart Walk t-shirt to happy hour and ask people to sign your shirt for $10. Ask the host/hostess if it can be announced that you are in the bar. And don’t forget to sign up online by Oct. 5th to receive your 2012 heart walk tee.

Bartender: Ask your favorite bar if you can bartend for a night and give all of your tips tor the Heart Walk. Make sure you tell all your friends to stop by the bar that night.

Movie tickets donation: Ask your local movie theater to donate movie tickets, then sell them or raffle them for pledges.

Radio station: Call your favorite radio station and ask them to make an announcement on the air and to interview you. People can send pledges directly to you or via the web.

See the American Heart Association's fundraising tool kit.

Learn more about the 2012 Penn Medicine Heart Walk team at PennMedicine.org/heartwalk.

For specific questions, email Jillian.Pearlman@uphs.upenn.edu.

Cardiology Update 2012: A Patient Management Approach

2012-09-12T11:38:00.000-04:00

View Cardiology Update Brochure (PDF)

Join Penn Medicine and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania for the 2012 Cardiology Update.

This annual CME-certified course is designed for primary care physicians (family physicians and internists), cardiologists and nurse practitioners with a special interest in cardiology.

The course focuses on practical and clinical issues health care professionals face daily. The updates combination of case presentations and lectures provide an academically sound and clinically relevant cardiology review.

Upon completion of the program, participants should be able to:

Discuss minimally invasive mitral valve repair surgery.
Review the indications and long-term data regarding implantable cardioverter defibrillators.
Explain appropriate use of transfusion in cardiovascular patients.
Discuss the current guidelines for reduction of embolic events in atrial fibrillation.
Review recommended therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
Describe current management recommendations for thoracic aortic disease.
Discuss the various approaches to the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Review the medical management of various lipid abnormalities.
Describe the current approach to diastolic heart failure.
Discuss the relationship of sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease.
Review the indications for surgery in severe valvular heart disease.
Explain the recommended clinical approach to patients with valvular heart disease.

Register online for Cardiology Update 2012

When:

Saturday and Sunday

October 13 and 14, 2012

Where:

Revel Hotel

500 Boardwalk

Atlantic City, NJ 08401

Course Directors:

Terry D. Friedman, MD, FACC

John J. Ross, Jr., RDCS, RVS, RCS

Harvey L. Waxman, MD, FACC

Join the 2012 Penn Medicine Heart Walk Team

2012-08-29T17:00:00.000-04:00

8 AM until noon Sunday, Nov. 4 at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia

Join the Penn Medicine community, American Heart Association (AHA) and people of all ages from the Philadelphia area at the 2012 Philadelphia Heart Walk and support the fight against heart disease and stroke!

The Philly Heart Walk is part of a collaborative, nationwide event to raise awareness and funds to support the AHA's mission of building healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Thousands of people from around the area are expected to join the event on Sunday, Nov. 4 at Citizen’s Bank Park.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. Your participation and fundraising efforts in the Philly Heart Walk directly supports Penn Medicine and the AHA in their goal of improving the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent by 2020. Research efforts like those underwritten by the Philly Heart Walk make great strides in decreasing the burden heart disease and stroke place on families and health care resources.

When:
Sunday, November 4, 2012
8 am - Festival area opens
10 am - Opening ceremonies
10:30 am - Walk begins

*9:25 am - Penn Medicine Heart Walk team photo (please arrive 10 min. prior to this time, at 9:15)
Penn Medicine team photo will take place next to the Mike Schmidt statue in front of the stadium.

Where:
Citizens Bank Park
1 Citizens Bank Park Way
Philadelphia, PA 19148

Parking: Lots T & U (Pattison Ave. & Citizens Bank Way)

More than 7,500 people are expected to attend this year’s event. If you can’t attend, you can still support the event by making a donation. Penn Medicine’s fundraising goal for the 2012 Philly Heart Walk is $130,000. In 2011, Penn Medicine's team of 1,213 participants raised more than $100,000, a significant contribution toward the $325,000 raised by the Philadelphia AHA chapter.

Last year, more than a million people joined Heart Walk events in cities and towns across the U.S. Led by leadership committees representing more than 10,000 companies, nearly 100,000 walkers raised more than $100 million in donations.

Help Penn raise funds and surpass last year's efforts by joining a Penn heart walk team, or starting your own team and participating in Philly Heart Walk 2012.

Questions? Please email Jillian.Pearlman@uphs.upenn.edu.

See who else is going by visiting our Philly Heart Walk Facebook event page.

Register for Penn Medicine's Heart Walk team

Visit Penn Cardiology at Night Market Philadelphia

2012-08-14T16:00:00.000-04:00

Visit physicians from Penn Cardiology Chestnut Hill at the Aug. 16 Night Market Philadelphia. Night Market is a street food festival held in various Philadelphia neighborhoods throughout the year. The event features:

Food vendors
Live music
Craft vendors
Local businesses

Penn Medicine supports Night Market, which celebrates Philadelphia’s vibrant cultural and culinary scene.

Stop by Penn Medicine’s booth for heart healthy giveaways or to ask a Penn cardiologist your heart health questions.

When: 6 to 10:30 pm

Thursday, August 16

Where: 6800-7200 Germantown Avenue

Fee: Free admission

Visit the Night Market website for more information about the event.

20th Annual State-of-the-Art Arrhythmia Symposium in Philadelphia

2012-08-07T16:10:00.000-04:00

The 2012 Penn Medicine State-of-the-Art Arrhythmia Symposium (SOAAS), is designed to provide excellent and up-to-date diagnosis and management strategies for treating patients with suspected or documented atrial or ventricular arrhythmias. . The CME-certified course*, is scheduled for Monday, September 10, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing.

The course, presented by Penn electrophysiologists, is appropriate for:

Internists
Cardiologists
Electrophysiologists
Associated health professionals
Nurses
Trainees

Interactive case presentations and in-depth, concise lectures on the management of the arrhythmia patients will be highlighted.

Upon completion of this arrhythmia course, participants should be able to:

Define the role of long-term anticoagulation in patients with various arrhythmia problems.
Identify patients with genetic arrhythmia syndromes.
Discuss the role of ablation for patients with atrial fibrillation including current recommendations and expected outcomes.
Identify common mistakes in ECG interpretation.
Discuss the differences in type, dose and use of the various oral anticoagulants.
Identify the role arrhythmias play in cardiac dysfunction.
Identify optimum management of ventricular tachycardia.
Discuss new techniques and technologies used during complex EP device and ablation cases.

This course has a 20-year history with a loyal following of individuals who regularly desire to sharpen their arrhythmia management skills and attendance is limited by the size of the lecture halls. Pre-registration is recommended as soon as possible.

When: Monday, September 10, 2011
Where: Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing
201 South Columbus Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19106

Register for the State-of-the-Art Arrhythmia Symposium Online

Visit the Penn CME website | Download SOAAS Course Brochure

* Designation of credit: The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Wrist vs. Groin Access: A Penn Study on Cardiac Stenting Procedures

2012-07-31T16:00:00.000-04:00

A great debate is happening and it has nothing to do with politics. Can wrist catheterization instead of groin catheterization in coronary angiograms and stenting procedures provide benefits for hospitals and patients? New research indicates wrist procedures may significantly reduce the risk of complications for patients and offer cost savings to hospitals.

Senior research analyst Matthew D. Mitchell, PhD, along with other analysts in the Center for Evidence-based Practice at Penn Medicine compared the findings from 14 previously published studies regarding the outcomes from cardiac stenting procedures using both methods of access. The combined findings were then put into a cost-benefit simulation model designed to estimate the average cost of care for these procedures. The results? Access through the wrist, as opposed to the groin approach, is more cost effective and reduces complications for patients.

General medical concerns about increases in procedure time and access failure in patients were also laid to rest in the study. The researchers found that the wrist approach took on average only one minute and 23 seconds longer than the groin approach.

Although the cost savings benefit may not be as substantial in sites with groin access complications or long wrist catheterization times, Craig A. Umscheid, MD, director of the Penn Medicine Center for Evidence-based Practice and a co-author of the study, still thinks that wrist access in cardiac stenting procedures is a good idea.

“Overall, our study demonstrated that the savings from reduced vascular complications outweighed the increased costs of longer procedure times and access failure associated with radial artery access by a large margin,” Dr. Umscheid said.

Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Washington Medical Center, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine participated in the study. The findings were published online in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. More information on this study can also be found in Penn Medicine's News and Publications.

Penn Heart Failure Patients Monitored From Home

2012-07-17T12:35:00.000-04:00

Cardiologists at Penn Medicine are testing devices that monitor heart failure patients from their own homes.

Read more about this latest advancement in heart failure treatment from Penn.

The Top 10 High Sodium Foods

2012-07-10T10:44:00.001-04:00

Do you love salty foods? If you’re like most Americans, you probably do. On average, people in the United States consume twice as much salt as their body’s need.

Is salt really that bad for you?

Salt contains sodium, a necessary element for many bodily functions. Sodium plays an essential role in regulating blood pressure, but too much sodium can raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cardiovascular disease causes one in three deaths in the United States.

How to reduce your sodium intake

More than 40 percent of the sodium in the typical American’s diet comes from just 10 types of food, according to the CDC. But this top 10 list might surprise you. That is why it is important to read the nutrition facts label and choose lower sodium options of these foods as often as possible.

The 10 top sources of sodium in your diet are:

Breads and rolls
Cold cuts and cured meats
Pizza
Poultry – fresh and processed
Soups
Sandwiches
Cheese
Pasta dishes
Meat dishes
Salty snacks

In addition to cutting back on the above foods, reduce your sodium intake by cooking at home. More than 75 percent of the sodium consumed by Americans comes from restaurants and packaged food.
What do you do to limit your sodium intake?

Learn more ways to better care for your and your health through Penn's Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine Program.

Why Does My Heart Flutter? The Causes and Dangers of Heart Palpitations

2012-07-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

Joshua D. Stern, MD, clinical associate of medicine and cardiac electrophysiologist at Penn Medicine, discusses what causes heart palpitations and when you should to seek medical attention.

Has your heart ever skipped a beat? Whether it was because you were alarmed or in love, the feeling of your heart fluttering is a common one and does not usually require medical attention. The sensation of abnormal heartbeats, also known as heart palpitations, happens to most people at some point in their lives.

Common causes of heart palpitations:

Intense emotions like anxiety, stress or fear
Prescription drugs for asthma, thyroid disease, high blood pressure or cardiac arrhythmia
Non-prescription drugs including pseudoephedrine (decongestant), caffeine and nicotine
Strenuous exercise
Hormone changes
Fever
Hyperventilation
Anemia
Overactive thyroid
Heart valve disease

But sometimes heart palpitations are a sign of cardiac arrhythmia, a heart rhythm disorder that requires medical attention.

Related: Dominic Tells How He Was Cured of Atrial Fibrillation
Talk to a doctor if your heart palpitations:

Are accompanied by a racing heart beat
Last more than a few seconds
Occur frequently
Have become bothersome

Seek immediate medical attention if your palpitations are accompanied by:

Lightheadedness
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Passing out

Medical therapy is the cornerstone of treatment for arrhythmias. However, some arrhythmias may be cured with catheter-based therapy, or radiofrequency ablation -- many times eliminating the need for medications altogether. Penn Medicine is considered one of the top centers in the nation for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia.

Related: Download a Free Guide to Atrial Fibrillation

Heart Healthy Recipes for the Summer

2012-06-26T14:30:00.000-04:00

What you eat can lower your risk of developing heart disease, but thinking of heart-healthy meals can sometimes be difficult. For culinary inspiration, check out these delicious and healthy recipes courtesy of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Blog.

Here is a sample of recipes you’ll find:

See all the recipes on the Penn Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Blog

The Best Foods for Your Heart

2012-06-19T10:49:00.000-04:00

Fran Burke, MS, RD, clinical dietitian for the Preventive Cardiovascular Program at Penn Medicine discusses the foods that lower your risk of heart disease.

People often get so caught up in losing weight that they forget why keeping a healthy weight is important: It reduces the risk of developing heart disease. And heart disease is the leading cause of death in America. One of the easiest ways to keep your heart healthy and your weight down is by choosing a diet that is chock full of these healthy foods.

Seafood

When it comes to heart health, it pays to go under the sea. Keep in mind that any seafood can become unhealthy depending on how it’s cooked, but in general seafood has:

Low levels of saturated fats
Low calorie to protein ratio
Lots of omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for the heart

While it’s true that shellfish is high in cholesterol, saturated fats are the real enemy when it comes to affecting your cholesterol levels. Four ounces of shrimp only has 0.4 grams saturated fat, while four ounces of cheese has about 24 grams of saturated fat.

Peanut butter and nuts

Nuts are calorie-dense and full of fat, but eaten in moderation, nuts are good for you. They contain:

Heart-healthy, unsaturated fats
Lots of protein that can help keep you fuller longer
Lots of fiber
Plant sterols that help lower cholesterol

High-fiber foods

There are two kinds of fiber, soluble and insoluble. Most fiber-rich foods contain both types of fiber, but some have more of one than the other.

Soluble fiber

Soluble fiber is the best kind of fiber for your heart because it helps lower your blood sugar levels and cholesterol. Examples of foods high in soluble fiber:

Oatmeal
Cheerios®
Citrus fruits
Beans
Apples
Berries
Carrots
Broccoli

Insoluble fiber

Insoluble fiber benefits the digestive system and can help keep you “regular.” Examples of foods high in insoluble fiber:

Whole wheat
Wheat bran
Brown rice
Barley

Soy products

Tofu, edamame, and tempeh may sound foreign to you, but you should get adventurous and give them a try. Like seafood, soy products contain high levels of protein without the saturated fat and extra calories that usually comes with meat.

Fat-free dairy products

When eating and drinking dairy products, it's important to use low-fat or fat-free versions. Because they are animal products, whole dairy foods often contain high levels of saturated fat, which can raise your cholesterol when you consume too much. Fat-free dairy products contain:

Lots of protein with little to no fat
Rich in calcium and Vitamin D

Fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables should make up the largest portion of any heart-healthy diet. They are:

Great sources of vitamins and minerals
Rich in fiber, which helps you eat less high-fat foods like meat and cheese
Full of antioxidants
Rich in plant sterols that help lower cholesterol

The Preventive Cardiology Program at Penn Medicine treats patients with a variety of cardiovascular-related conditions. Learn more about the Preventive Cardiovascular Program.