While enormous pressure may be the norm for cardiac surgeons, the stakes are particularly high when the life of a former U.S. president is on the line. And when Bill Clinton underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2004, all eyes were on the heart specialists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.


Dead is dead — everyone knows it, especially physicians. And what’s dead can’t be recovered; or can it?
Startling developments in heart research, combined with a growing body of evidence that demonstrates heart recovery potential through mechanical left ventricular devices, are creating a change in the way doctors understand and treat stunned, damaged and even “dead” heart muscle.


Five million Americans are affected by heart failure and approximately 400,000 new cases in the U.S. are diagnosed each year, according to the Heart Failure Society of America — that figure quadruples globally, and many do not know they have a heart failure condition until they are hospitalized.

The practice of cardiology is going through incredible changes. With more cardiologists interpreting CT data, they are learning new and innovative ways to quickly and more effectively evaluate, diagnose and treat patients in a specialty where time is of the essence.


The long-standing standard of care for patients with carotid artery disease was surgery and/or medical management. In August 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration changed all that when it approved the first carotid stenting system, called the RX ACCULINK Carotid Artery Stent System and RX ACCUNET Embolic Protection System by Guidant.

Targeted Renal Therapy (TRT) with the Benephit CV Infusion System from FlowMedica Inc. is an alternative to systemic intravenous (IV) infusion of medications to address kidney dysfunction related to a number of conditions. TRT is a novel technology that enables the infusion of medications and other therapeutic agents directly into the kidneys via the renal arteries.

Situated in America’s heartland, St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center is a healthcare leader for metro Lincoln, NE. It has been rated one of the Top 100 Hospitals by Solucient two of the past three years and recognized as a Magnet hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for excellence in nursing.


New technologies adopted by cardiologists not only improve patient care but expand the role of these physicians. Whether it's stenting a carotid artery or viewing real-time ultrasound images at the bedside, today's cardiologist can solve more problems than just those of the heart.


At a pivotal time of advancement in cardiovascular imaging, diagnostics, interventions and therapies, a time when specialty heart hospitals are forming to combat the deadliest disease in America, the federal purse strings are about to be pulled a little tighter in 2007, and rules for these types of narrowly focused hospitals are going to be more stringent.

Frustrated over healthcare's “failure” to deter the growth of cardiac disease while holding many valuable, predictive tools in their hands, leading physicians take a stand with published report. The SHAPE task force recommends widespread screening with multislice cardiac CT scanning and carotid ultrasound.
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