Heart Disease: Taking Minimally Invasive Interventions to the Max

When it comes to heart disease, the facts are sobering. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming about 700,000 lives a year. Fortunately, the heart specialists affiliated with Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular are dedicated to discovering new ways to prevent and treat heart disease.

As affiliated interventional cardiologist Nadish Garg, MD, explains, physicians at Memorial Hermann are employing innovative, minimally invasive techniques to treat most heart conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart valve diseases and heart abnormalities, which once required open surgery. As a result, patients typically experience less pain and shorter hospitalizations and recoveries. Dr. Garg sees patients at Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital.

What is coronary artery disease, and how can it be treated?

Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease. It occurs when arteries, which bring blood to the heart muscle, become blocked due to a buildup of plaque. At Memorial Hermann Southeast, we have a comprehensive cardiovascular program which offers both minimally invasive coronary interventions, such as stenting and angioplasty, as well as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery for patients with multivessel disease or for whom minimally invasive procedures are not suitable.

When performing the minimally invasive procedures, the surgeon enters the patient’s blocked artery through a small puncture, typically in the wrist or leg, and threads a small tube, called a catheter, into the artery to open the blockage. The surgeon uses either a tiny lattice-shaped metal tube, called a stent, or a tiny balloon device, to keep the blocked artery open. We employ some of the most advanced tools available to perform these procedures safely and effectively.

What treatments are available for patients with heart valve problems?

The heart contains four types of valves—aortic, mitral, tricuspid and pulmonary—which help move blood through the heart and throughout the body. At Memorial Hermann Southeast, we treat all forms of heart valve disease, including the two most common forms, aortic and mitral valve disease.

Memorial Herman Southeast is one of five hospitals within Memorial Hermann Health System in which heart specialists treat aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the aortic valve, with a minimally invasive procedure called transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). During the procedure, the surgeon accesses and replaces the diseased valve through a catheter inserted into the artery via a small puncture in the patient’s leg or chest. Patients typically go home the next day. We recently performed our 100th TAVR procedure. What is the connection between heart care and stroke prevention?

Dr. Nadish Garg Cardiologist

Atrial fibrillation (AFib), a heart condition characterized by irregular heartbeat, increases an individual’s risk of stroke by four to six times, on average, and the risk increases with age. In people over 80 years of age, AFib is the direct cause of one in four strokes. To mitigate the risk of stroke in patients with AFib, we typically prescribe anticoagulants, commonly known as blood thinners. But in patients who cannot take blood thinners, including those with bleeding problems or those at high risk of falling, we offer a minimally invasive procedure called left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO). During the procedure, the cardiologist inserts a device to close off the left atrial appendage to prevent stroke when in AFib. Patients are typically discharged the following day and will no longer need to take blood thinners. To date, we have performed over 50 cases. Another common cardiac condition that can lead to stroke is called patent foramen ovale (PFO), a hole between the upper chambers of the heart present in everyone before birth. In most of the population, the PFO naturally closes before birth. In about 25%, however, the PFO doesn’t close and can lead to what we call paradoxical embolic stroke. We carefully evaluate a stroke patient to rule out other causes, such as carotid artery disease or cardiovascular disease, before we consider them a candidate for PFO closure. The procedure to close the PFO is performed through a vein in the patient’s right leg and takes about 45 minutes to an hour.

To learn more about minimally invasive treatments for heart disease at Memorial Hermann, or to schedule an appointment with a heart and vascular specialist, visit memorialhermann.org/heart

Advancing health. Personalizing care.

By Rick Clapp

Perfectly scripted for this Valentine Month, Collard Jewelers celebrates its one-year anniversary. This “Diamond in the Rough” jeweler has become the talk of the Bay. Dynamic entrepreneur and owner Wendy Collard has put all her vast experience into the success of Collard Jewelers.

The love for rocks and stones began with Wendy growing up for most of her life in Utah. While other young girls played with dolls, doll houses, and dress up, Wendy preferred playing with a rock tumbler. She loved the feel, the texture and the look of rocks and stones. This fascination with rocks grew into a passion for Diamonds and Jewelry.

Wendy Collard’s first job as a teenager was working for a retail jewelry store located at the mall. Her interest continued as she began a journey far beyond what she originally planned. This led to a life of international travel and further education. Collard earned Colored Stone Identification, Diamonds, Pearls, Bench Jeweler, and many more certifications. Collard attended and received an esteemed certification from Canadian Gemmological Association, CGA, and the Gemological Institute of America, GIA.

Collard earned the trusted respect of the diamond maven Le Vian Diamonds. She proudly showed their diamonds at trunk shows including well known retailers such as Macy’s, Jared’s, Saks, and other carriage trade independent jewelers. She gained a tremendous amount of experience in the diamond business working in European Diamond Centers including, Antwerp, Hanover, and the United Kingdom, especially in London.

Collard’s notable jewelry lines include Ninacci, Picchiotti, Mastoloni, and other affordable vendors such as Samuel B and Michou.

Service to community has always been a part of Collard’s success. A member of the Seabrook Rotary, she is a Paul Harris Fellow. She also contributes to local charities and organizations. Collard Jewelry is donating a priceless piece of jewelry that will be auctioned off to raise funds for Texas EquuSearch. Wendy is married to husband Tony for 25 years and three children: daughter Mystie and spouse Tyler, daughter Mindie and spouse David, and son McCord Carter plus seven grandchildren.

Collard Jewelers houses all this vast experience and knowledge under one roof. So, whether you need that special piece for someone you love, yourself, a family member, or need an appraisal on a valuable piece or a repair, this jeweler offers all. Wendy Collard also specializes in her custom designs.

Congratulations to Collard Jewelers on their anniversary.

Visit Collard Jewelers at 2700 Marina Bay Dr., Suite L, in League City. You can also contact them at 832-385-6246 and follow them on Facebook @Collard Jewelers.

We were in Chappell Hill for one of my wife’s “shop-till-you-drop” excursions. It was a beautiful spring day, so we decided to hit a local shop for some ice cream. Warm, sunny day and still four hours to dinner, it all seemed to make sense. But, as one thought leads to another, the idea of ice cream of course led to thoughts of Blue Bell, and the plan changed. It would be almost sacrilegious to be this close to Brenham and not make a stop at the Blue Bell Creamery, the place where Texans’ ice cream is born. Neither of us had been there and it was a perfect day for a bit of extra, top-down driving. We heard the tours always end with some free ice cream, and even if it didn’t, we were relatively sure we could find somewhere to buy some. We hopped in the Jeep and headed west.

But some things in life are just not meant to be. We arrived mid-afternoon on a weekday, only to find the parking lots empty and the place closed. Puzzled, but still craving ice cream, we found our way to to the Must Be Heaven ice cream parlor in town and placed our order. We were shocked when we were told they had no Blue Bell. Whoever heard of an ice cream shop in Texas without it? The clerk explained the recall situation to us and it all became clear.

When Texans are out of Blue Bell, they are out of ice cream. This was tragic. I knew there would be internal, and probably even external, investigations that could take days, weeks maybe. It could be a long dry spell for Texas.

Whenever an accident or other serious event occurs, police or investigators in the workplace often separate witnesses, or those involved in the event, immediately so they won’t have an opportunity to talk to each other. Several people witnessing the same occurrence often “see” different things. There is a risk that if the witnesses begin to talk to each other, some will be influenced by the statements of others and begin to doubt their own observations or even go so far as to believe they saw what the others reported.