In the world of heart repairs, doctors have a few tricks up their sleeves. One of these is using a tiny balloon to open up blocked paths in the heart. Sometimes, though, this balloon trick does not work well. So, they try placing a small metal tube, called a stent, to keep the path open. But, as wit
When older adults have surgery that isn't related to the heart, there's a chance they might get confused afterwards. This isn't just a small issue. It can lead to bigger problems and make their stay in the hospital longer. What's more, different hospitals see this happening at different rates. This
A young Latino child's life took a dramatic turn when they fled violence in their home country, seeking safety in the USA. Little did they know, their journey would lead to a life-changing health diagnosis. The child was diagnosed with supravalvular aortic stenosis, a heart condition that required
After heart surgery, many adults face a sneaky issue: atrial fibrillation, or AF. This is when the heart beats in a chaotic way. It's a common problem, affecting up to half of the patients who have had heart surgery. The tricky part? It can show up after the patient has already left the hospital. Th
Before some surgeries, doctors often order extra heart tests. This is to check if a patient is at risk of heart problems after the surgery. These tests can cause delays and add to medical costs. But are these tests always needed? For many people, the answer is no. Most patients who have low or no ri
Lots of people have both coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease. This means they often need two big surgeries: coronary artery bypass grafting and valve replacement or repair. After these procedures, doctors usually prescribe a mix of anticoagulants and antiplatelets to prevent blood clo
In the world of heart surgery, doctors often notice two things happening together in adults with heart problems: sarcopenia (muscle loss) and malnutrition (poor nutrition). Researchers wanted to find out if these conditions before surgery could lead to serious heart and brain issues after the surger
A new study has shown that the more familiar cardiac surgery teams are with each other, the better they perform. This means teams that work together often can make surgeries faster and safer. The study looked at how well teams know each other and how that affects both the speed of the surgery and ho
Ever wondered how fluctuations in blood sugar might affect your kidneys after heart surgery? Researchers recently took a close look at this topic by studying a large group of patients. They explored different ways to track how much blood sugar levels bounce up and down post-surgery. Their focus was
