5 Things in Your Body That Heal Slower Than You Think (And How Totally Endoscopic Cardiac Surgery [TECS] Avoids One of Them) We often assume the human body is a rapid self-repair machine. Cut your finger, it heals in a week. Break a bone, it’s fixed in a couple of months. While our biology is miraculous, some tissues and components …

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 …

Finding out you need heart surgery can be a daunting and anxiety-filled experience, no matter where you are in your journey. At St. Elizabeth Healthcare, we recognize these concerns and are committed to making sure you receive comprehensive pre- and post-surgical support to ensure a better recovery and long-term heart health.  Our dedicated team does this by working together as one. “Our surgery team is vast,” says Dr. Mario Castillo-Sang, a …

Dr. Michael “Mickey” Ising, brings more than surgical skill to the St. Elizabeth cardiac surgery team – he brings the mindset of an engineer. Before he ever stepped into an operating room, Dr. Ising was immersed in the world of biomedical engineering. He worked on artificial heart technology – designing mechanical systems that could replicate the rhythm and reliability of …

Nicole Schadler, a loving wife, mother and long-standing Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, lived an active and healthy lifestyle. But one day in March, Nicole began experiencing troubling symptoms – swollen hands, kidney pain and abnormally high blood pressure. Despite multiple doctor’s visits and new medications, her periodic symptoms continued to worsen, …

When it comes to your family’s medical history, having detailed information is invaluable. Carrie Anderson, MS, LGC, a Genetic Counselor at St. Elizabeth, explains that while many people know a relative had a “heart condition,” healthcare recommendations can vary widely depending on whether it was coronary artery disease, a heart valve disorder, an abnormal heart rhythm or another condition. Gaining …

Coronary artery disease — blocked heart arteries — is the most common type of heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it affects one in 20 American adults over age 20. Interventional cardiologists use a procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to clear arteries in patients with this condition. To help patients with severe artery blockages …

Hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, mood changes. They’re all changes synonymous with menopause. But there’s another symptom of menopause many women may not be aware of: increased risk of heart disease. Most women experience menopause (the end of their monthly periods) in their late 40s or early to mid-50s. Certain menopause-related biological changes, including a decrease in estrogen production, …

In September, St. Elizabeth Healthcare hosted the Endoscopic Cardiac Surgeons (ECS) Club annual meeting at our Training and Education Center (SETEC) in Northern Kentucky — marking the first time this prestigious event has been held in the United States. Three Days of Ingenuity, Connection and Collaboration More than 200 surgeons and medical professionals from 42 countries gathered to share knowledge, …

St. Elizabeth Healthcare has reached a new milestone in cardiac surgery with the adoption of state-of-the-art 3D 4K endoscopic technology, ensuring the care you receive remains at the forefront of surgical innovation in the United States. The new system was successfully used in June by the cardiac surgery team. It allows surgeons to perform complex heart procedures through small incisions …