Contact:
Pam McDonnell
NYU School of Medicine
Office of Communications
212-404-3555
E-Mail: Pamela.McDonnell@nyumc.org
Patients benefit from new surgical techniques, medication used
to treat cardiovascular disease
New York, NY, April 27, 2006 —As the science and technology
of minimally invasive surgery improves, the gold standard for operating
on patients with heart disease—open chest cardiac surgery—may
become a treatment of the past, according to Stephen Colvin, MD,
Chairman of Cardiothoracic Surgery at New York University Medical
Center in New York City. Revolutionary techniques and medications
offer an array of benefits to patients and show promise in improving
overall patient outcomes.
“There have been enormous changes in treatment options and
physician approaches over the last couple of decades,” explained
Dr. Colvin. “Patients and their physicians now have several
options in terms of treatment and can discuss the best solution
for the situation at hand.”
Dr. Colvin, who is also the Seymour Cohn Professor of Cardiothoracic
Surgery at New York University School of Medicine, spoke today
at an American Medical Association media briefing, Cardiovascular
Disease, in New York City.
The latest trend in surgery is minimally invasive procedures, a
technique that only requires a small incision to access the diseased
area. After perfecting the technique elsewhere in the body, surgeons
are now using it to treat diseases of the heart, including congenital
heart disease, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease
and aneurysms of the great vessels.
With a small incision in the chest, surgeons can maneuver all the
tubes and instruments necessary for to perform surgery, Dr. Colvin
said. And, miniature cameras and high definition monitors assist
surgeons in the navigation through the vascular system.
“The patient benefit from these procedures is substantial,” he
said. “Their recovery time is cut in half and, many times,
they’re back in my office two weeks later asking if they
can return to work. They don’t even look like they’ve
had surgery.” Complications after surgery are also minimal.
Dr. Colvin said that only one in 200 of his patients undergoing
minimally invasive cardiac surgery needs a second intervention.
Dr. Colvin and his colleagues are experimenting with additional
surgical techniques, including robotic surgery and transcatheter
valve surgery, which entails repairing or replacing a faulty heart
valve without making an incision in the heart or aorta. The techniques
look promising, but he notes that both are still in their elementary
phase. He also identified stem cell therapy, transplantation and
implant therapy as other techniques that may one day prove effective.
The pharmaceutical industry and advances in cardiovascular risk
management have also been beneficial in the treatment of heart
disease. “Significant advances in statin and platelet control
therapies can be extremely effective if heart ailments are identified
early on in life,” he said.
“Most importantly, we cannot ignore the value of lifestyle
changes,” he continued. “Research points to the benefits
of diet, exercise and stress reduction. Each can play a major role
in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.”
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