HJNO May/Jun 2019

54 MAY / JUN 2019  I  Healthcare Journal of NEW ORLEANS   Hospital Rounds St. Tammany Parish President, Five Area Hospital CEOs Join the Fight Against Heart Disease While nearly 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented through education and lifestyle changes, cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of death in women, claiming the lives of one in three women. Each year more women die of heart disease than all forms of can- cer combined.  Because of these startling statistics, St. Tam- many Parish President Pat Brister, along with five St. Tammany area hospital CEOs , presented the Greater New Orleans American Heart Associa- tionwith a proclamation declaring February Heart Month throughout the parish and urging the com- munity to take charge of their health. “The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women® movement is an excellent way to raise awareness about women’s health, and such a motivator for every woman to take action to reduce their risk of disease,” said Brister. “We have so many women who are smart, success- ful contributors to this wonderful community, we want to engage them all to learn their risks and to take action.” American Heart Month, a federally designated event, is an ideal time to remind Americans to focus on their hearts and encourage them to get their families, friends, and communities involved. The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women® movement is the “trusted, pas- sionate, relevant” force for change to end heart disease and stroke in women all over the world. For 15 years, Go Red for Women has provided a platform for women to come together, raise awareness, fund lifesaving research, advocate for change, and improve the lives of all women everywhere. This spreading of awareness during Heart Month is crucial to move the needle and make everyone aware of the dangers of heart dis- ease—and how they can prevent it. Prior to Go Red forWomen, only 30 percent of women knew that heart diseasewas their greatest health threat. Adecade after Go Red forWomen launched,close to 56 percent of women recognized this fact, nearly a 90 percent increase in awareness. LakeviewRegional Medical Center is First in Greater New Orleans Metro Area to Offer TCAR Procedure to Treat Carotid Artery Disease Lakeview Regional Medical Center, a campus of Tulane Medical Center, is the first hospital in the Greater New Orleans metro area to treat carotid artery disease and help prevent future strokes using a new procedure called TransCa- rotid Artery Revascularization, or TCAR. TCAR (tee-kahr) is a clinically proven,minimally invasive, and safe approach for high-surgical risk patients who need carotid artery treatment. “It seemed so easy compared to the other sur- geries I’ve had,and the recovery wasmuch faster,” said Joseph Wilder, a 76-year-old Carriere, Mis- sissippi, resident who was considered too risky for traditional surgery before opting for theTCAR procedure.“I was out of the hospital the day after the procedure with a much smaller scar than I expected.” Carotid artery disease is a formof atherosclero- sis, or a buildup of plaque, in the two main arter- ies in the neck that supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain. If left untreated, carotid artery dis- ease can often lead to stroke. It is estimated to be the source of stroke in up to a third of cases, with 400,000 newdiagnoses of the diseasemade every year in the U.S. alone.  “TCAR is an important new option in the fight against stroke.It is particularly suited for the large portion of patients we see who are at higher risk of complications from carotid surgery due to age, anatomy or other medical conditions,” said Dr. David Kaplan, a vascular surgeon at Lakeview Regional.“Because of its low stroke risk, less inva- sive, smaller incision and faster patient recovery, TCAR represents the future of carotid repair.” TCAR is unique in that blood flow is temporarily reversed during the procedure so that any small bits of plaque that may break off are diverted away from the brain, preventing a stroke fromhappen- ing.Astent is then placed inside the artery to sta- bilize the plaque, minimizing the risk of a future stroke. “I feel great,”Wilder said.“And if I would need to do the other side, Dr. Kaplan would be the physi- cian I would choose.” Prior to TCAR, the main treatment option for severe carotid artery disease was an open sur- gical procedure called carotid endarterectomy, or CEA. CEA removes plaque from inside the carotid artery to restore normal blood flow to the brain,however a large scar at the point of incision is left on the neck, and it does carry some risks of surgical complications. St. Bernard Parish Hospital Per- forms New Orleans’ First LINX® Procedure St. Bernard Parish Hospital (SBPH) performed the area’s first procedure using the LINX® Reflux Management System, which is a permanent, drug-free treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).* The procedure helps patients suffering from GERD experience a better qual- ity of life and experience relief without needing daily medication. Approximately 60 million Americans experi- ence heartburn once a month, with more than 15million suffering from the condition daily. Gas- troesophageal reflux occurs when the lower eso- phageal sphincter (LES) is weak or relaxes inap- propriately, allowing the stomach’s contents to flowup into the esophagus.Inmany cases,GERD symptoms can be alleviated with diet and exer- cise, but some people require medication or surgery. LINX® consists of a small band of magnetized titaniumbeads wrapped around the LES located at the base of the esophagus. This band helps prevent gastric acids from pushing back up into the esophagus from the stomach, yet also safely allows the LES to open when required to allow for easy swallowing.The proceduremay be appropri- ate for patients ages 21 and older who experience significant GERD-related symptoms despite tak- ing medication. “This procedure offers an alternative to daily medication, while providing relief for patients suffering from the chronic symptoms associ- ated with acid reflux. It’s truly a game changer for patients suffering from acid reflux and St. Ber- nard Parish Hospital is proud to bring this inno- vative treatment to our area,” said Dr. Thomas Delahoussaye, who performed the first LINX® procedure at SBPH.