When Kenny first sat down with the St. Elizabeth Heart Failure team in 2020, he was worn down – physically, mentally and emotionally. His heart problems stretched back decades: early symptoms in the late ’90s, bypass surgery in 2000, stents in the early 2000s and a massive heart attack in 2008 that changed the trajectory of his health. By the …
The Expanding Horizon of Totally Endoscopic Procedures Throughout this series, we’ve shown how Totally Endoscopic Cardiac Surgery (TECS) transforms recovery by preserving the chest structure and minimizing trauma. But its true power lies in its ability to tackle cases once considered too complex for minimally invasive surgery. Broadening the Possibilities Previously, patients with complicated heart conditions – such as severe valve …
Mastery Matters: Inside the Expertise Behind TECS In earlier parts of this series, we explored why Totally Endoscopic Cardiac Surgery (TECS) is truly minimal and how preserving the chest structure transforms recovery. Now, we turn to another critical factor: the surgeon’s skill – and why this approach demands a level of caliber of skills far beyond conventional techniques. Why TECS …
How Truly Minimal Surgery Fast-Tracks Your Return to Life For anyone facing heart surgery, success matters – but so does getting back to the life you love. Totally Endoscopic Cardiac Surgery (TECS) offers one of the fastest paths to recovery, helping patients return to work, hobbies and independence in a fraction of the time compared to traditional methods. In Part …
Why “No Bone Cut” Means Faster Recovery We’ve established that Totally Endoscopic Cardiac Surgery (TECS) uses tiny incisions (Part 1) and relies on high-tech 3D vision (Part 2). Now, we arrive at the most crucial physical distinction: the preservation of the patient’s foundational bone structure. When a patient hears “minimally invasive,” they hope to avoid the trauma associated with open-heart …
How 3D Visualization Enhances Surgical Precision In Part 1, we established that Totally Endoscopic Cardiac Surgery (TECS) represents the truly minimal end of the surgical spectrum by using a tiny, keyhole port instead of larger incisions. This naturally leads to an important question: If the surgeon isn’t looking directly at the heart, how can they still perform such delicate repairs …
Decoding the Difference in Cardiac Surgery The world of heart surgery is constantly advancing, driven by the quest for smaller incisisons, fast recoveries and better outcomes. Today, minimally invasive surgery is considered the gold standard across many disciplines, from orthopaedics to cardiology. But here is a crucial distinction that most people – even those following medical trends – don’t realize: …
Is Your “Minimally Invasive” Surgery Truly Minimal? The term ‘minimally invasive’ is often referred to as the gold standard in modern cardiac care. However, many patients don’t realize that it is a broad category that encompasses: Various less-invasive procedures that promise general benefits like faster healing and reduced pain when compared to traditional open-heart surgery. Many different techniques, including those …
When Shawn Martin collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest during a Sunday stroll, his wife Emily didn’t hesitate. She called 911 and immediately began CPR. What followed was a remarkable chain of events that not only saved Shawn’s life but saw him discharged from the hospital just three days later. In the world of cardiac care, that kind of recovery is …
When it comes to your heart, you want the best care possible. The heart surgery team at St. Elizabeth Healthcare is delivering cutting-edge procedures and care that improve outcomes and quality of life. Dr. Juan Penaranda, a Cardiac Surgeon at St. Elizabeth Healthcare explains what patients can expect and feel confident about when it comes to their heart care here. Q: What Makes St. Elizabeth a Leader in Advanced Heart Surgery? St. Elizabeth is certified by The Joint …
