Your Health Today

healthtoday

your Winter 2011

• Your Guide to Healthy Living from MCGHealth System •

Fighting cancer with second opinions Expert care for skull base tumors New hope for complex arrhythmias Autism: red flag behaviors

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A shoulder to lean on MCGHealth System support groups ALS Support Group WHEN: Last Monday of each month, 6–7:30 p.m. Dinner is provided.

WHERE: MCGHealth Medical Center, 6th floor, West CALL: 706-721-1411 for more information

Autism Support Group WHEN: First Tuesday of each month, 6–7 p.m.

WHERE: MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center, 1st floor, Family Resource Library, 1446 Harper St. CALL: 706-721-5160 for more information

A.W.A.K.E. Support Group Support for sleep apnea patients WHEN: Fourth Thursday of each month, 7–9 p.m.

WHERE: MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center, 1st floor, Family Resource Library, 1446 Harper St. CALL: 706-721-0793 for more information

Blood Cancer/Stem Cell Transplant Support Group WHEN: Third Thursday of each month, 5:30–7 p.m.

WHERE: MCGHealth Cancer Center, 1st floor, Community Conference Room, 1411 Laney Walker Blvd.

CALL: 706-721-9134 for more information

Breast Cancer Support Group WHEN: Second Thursday of each month, 5:30–7 p.m.

WHERE: MCGHealth Cancer Center, 1st floor, Community Conference Room, 1411 Laney Walker Blvd.

CALL: 706-721-4109 for more information

Huntington Disease Support Group CALL: 706-721-4895 for more information

Let's Talk Support Group For cancer patients WHEN: Second and fourth Tuesday of each month, 5:30–7 p.m.

WHERE: MCGHealth Cancer Center, 1st floor, Community Conference Room, 1411 Laney Walker Blvd.

CALL: 706-721-0550 for more information

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Inside this issue Page 3 Tips for a safe and healthy winter

Pages 4–5

Focus on Women • Endometrial ablation: An alternative to hysterectomy • Breast cancer: Staging the disease

Pages 6–7

Cancer Prevention • Fight cancer with second opinions

Look Good ... Feel Better Support Group For female cancer patients WHEN: Second Monday of each month, 5:30–7:30 p.m.

WHERE: MCGHealth Cancer Center, 1st floor, Community Conference Room, 1411 Laney Walker Blvd.

CALL: 706-721-0466 to register

Multiple Sclerosis Support Group

• New minimally invasive surgery options for skull base tumors

Pages 8–9

Heart-Healthy Living • New hope for complex arrhythmias

Pages 10–11

Family Health

WHEN: Fourth Monday of each month, 6–7:30 p.m. Dinner is provided.

WHERE: MCGHealth Medical Center, Augusta MS Center, 6th floor, West CALL: 706-721-1411 for reservations or information

• Autism: Watch for these red flags

Trauma Support Group

In the News

For trauma patients and their family members WHEN: Third Wednesday of each month, noon–1 p.m.

WHERE: MCGHealth Medical Office Building, 3rd floor Conference Room, 1447 Harper St. CALL: 706-721-0278 for more information

• Name change brings national recognition

• World-renowned sickle cell expert joins MCGHealth System Children’s Medical Center

Page 12

The material in Your Health Today is not intended for diagnosing or prescribing. Consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment.

For more information, please call 800-736-CARE (2273) or visit our Web site at mcghealth.org.

Copyright © 2011 MCGHealth System

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Image on page 2 © istockphoto.com/Kevin Klopper; Images on page 3 © 2011 Thinkstock

Tips for a safe and healthy winter

Preventing SIDS

Keep colds at bay

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eaths from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) increase in cold weather because parents often place extra blankets or clothes on infants. To prevent SIDS: • Avoid putting too many layers of clothing or blankets on infants.

• Don’t keep room temperatures too warm.

• Use a firm sleep surface and place your baby on his or her back to sleep.

• Keep soft objects, toys and loose bedding out of the sleep area.

Keep your family safe Safe Kids East Central offers Cribs for Kids®, a safe-sleep education program. Please call 706-721-7606 or visit mcghealth.org/safekids for more information or to preregister.

lthough there is no cure for a cold, the following steps can help prevent them: • Make everyone in your family wash their hands thoroughly and often.

• Keep kitchen and bathroom surfaces clean and wash your children’s toys periodically.

• Sneeze and cough into tissues; discard them immediately and wash your hands right away.

• Don’t share drinking glasses or utensils with others.

• Avoid close contact with anyone who has a cold.

• Look for a childcare facility with sound hygiene policies and practices.

Space heaters: Stay warm and safe

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he heating elements on some space heaters are hot enough to ignite nearby combustibles. Follow these safety guidelines: • Buy a heater that is listed with a nationally recognized testing laboratory.

• Make sure the heating element has a guard around it.

• Read and follow all instructions.

• Know how far the heater should be from combustible materials.

• Keep heaters away from water.

• Never use heaters to dry clothing.

Be a winter warrior

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ropping temperatures are no reason for healthy people to stay indoors. Outdoor exercise can cure cabin fever, fight winter blues and boost your energy and immune system.

But be sure to: • Layer your clothing so you can adjust as needed.

• Protect your hands and feet with gloves, good socks and sturdy shoes with traction.

• Wear reflective clothing in dark weather.

• Wear sunscreen.

• Drink plenty of water.

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Focus on Women

Understanding endometrial ablation A question & answer session with Kelli Braun, MD, an Ob/Gyn with MCGHealth System Women’s Center, who performs this less invasive alternative to hysterectomies What is endometrial ablation?

A: Endometrial ablation is a procedure in which a specially trained Ob/Gyn destroys the lining of the uterus and stops or greatly reduces menstrual flow. The procedure is appropriate for women who suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding and have finished childbearing. It can be a safe, less invasive alternative to hysterectomy, which requires hospitalization, an incision and a long recovery.

What are the benefits?

A: There is no incision or long recovery time, and you may avoid hospitalization.

It does not cause hormonal changes, and most patients can return to normal activities in a day or two.

How is the procedure performed?

A: Endometrial ablation is performed with thin tools inserted through the cervix and into the uterus.

Extreme cold, microwave, radiofrequency or other forms of energy are used to destroy the lining of the uterus. The procedure can often be performed in a physician’s office. However, it may need to be done in a hospital, depending on the size and condition of the uterus and whether local or general anesthesia is used.

Ob/Gyn care to meet every need MCGHealth System Women’s Center is the only program in the area offering the entire spectrum of women’s services from adolescent and well-woman care to high-risk pregnancy care, pelvic reconstruction and in vitro fertilization. To schedule a convenient appointment, call 706-721-CARE (2273) or visit mcghealth.org/women.

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Is it appropriate for all women?

A: No. Endometrial ablation is allowing many women to avoid more invasive hysterectomies, but it is not right for everyone. The procedure is not appropriate for women who: • plan to become pregnant in the future • have had a prior uterine surgery • have undiagnosed uterine bleeding • have cancer of the uterus • are past menopause • have recently been pregnant If you experience heavy or irregular vaginal bleeding, record when the bleeding occurs during the month and speak with your physician.

Your breast cancer battle Setting the stage for treatment

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ou probably know that breast cancer can be diagnosed at various stages, but do you know what that means and how the staging is done? Suzanne Thigpen, MD, a breast radiologist with MCGHealth System Cancer Center, has some answers.

“The stage depends on the size of the tumor and whether or not cancer cells have spread beyond the breast,” Dr. Thigpen says. Breast cancer stages range from zero to four, with many subcategories. Lower numbers indicate earlier, easier-to-treat stages. Higher numbers indicate later stages that have spread to other parts of the body and are more difÀcult to treat. Therefore, the stage is an important factor in a patient’s prognosis.

Determining the stage Your physician will determine your breast cancer stage after considering:

• the size of your tumor • whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under your arm

• whether the cancer has spread to others parts of your body

What tests are used?

Schedule one-day, one-place breast cancer appointments

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omen with breast cancer often have to visit physicians in multiple locations to get an accurate diagnosis and the care they need. But with MCGHealth System Breast Health Services, patients can be evaluated by their medical oncologist, surgical oncologist, breast imaging radiologist, radiation oncologist and a breast health navigator who coordinates care, all on one day and in one place.

Your physician will perform a careful exam and review all test results, including the results from any biopsies or postsurgical pathology reports. Additional

To schedule a quick, convenient appointment, call 706-721-2273 or visit mcghealth.org/women.

© istockphoto.com/Alex Slobodkin

tests may include:

• blood tests to determine your general health, measure your kidney and liver function and help physicians determine what other staging tests may be needed

• chest X-rays to determine whether breast cancer cells have spread to your lungs

• imaging tests to see if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body “Physicians use the stage of a breast cancer to make informed treatment decisions, so staging is an important step in battling the disease,” Dr. Thigpen says.

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Cancer Prevention

A new perspective Fighting cancer with second opinions

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f you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you have a lot at stake. That’s why many people ask another physician to review their test results and medical records and provide a second opinion.

“I think that is a wise

A second opinion provides reassurance that your diagnosis and plan of care are on target.

thing to do,” says Thomas

—Thomas Samuel, MD

Samuel, MD, a medical oncologist at MCGHealth System Cancer Center. “A second opinion provides reassurance that your diagnosis and plan of care are on target. It also lets another

Get multidisciplinary care with your second opinion

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s part of an academic health center, MCGHealth System Cancer Center staffs physicians with expertise in virtually all types of cancer who provide second opinions for patients with cancer. A team led by a physician who specializes in the type of cancer you have will review your medical records, assess your diagnosis and make sure you are receiving the care you deserve.

physician suggest possible treatment modiÀcations and help answer any questions you may have.”

When to get a second opinion Although second opinions are a good idea for everyone, they can be particularly important when:

• the cancer has metastasized and your physician cannot determine the primary type of cancer.

Cancer treatments vary greatly depending on the type, so you may get much more effective care if a deÀnitive diagnosis can be established.

Don’t wait Call 706-721-CARE or visit mcghealth.org/cancer to schedule an appointment for a second opinion that could alter the course of your life.

• you have limited options. In that case, you’ll want access to clinical trials. The Cancer Center offers more clinical trials than any other local hospital, including phase 1 trials not available at other area facilities.

• there is something “borderline” about your case.

• you live in a rural area and are being treated at a hospital with limited cancer treatment expertise.

• you have a rare cancer that requires highly “Don’t be afraid to bring the issue of a second opinion up with your physician. Most physicians welcome them,” Dr. Samuel says.

“In fact, area physicians often call us themselves to conÀrm their patients’ diagnoses and plans of care.”

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specialized care.

The center is offering a new type of endoscopic endonasal surgery that requires no incision. The procedure is done using Àber-optic lenses with working channels through which tiny instruments are inserted through the nose and into the skull base. These complex operations are performed by a team that includes Dr. Solares, neurosurgeons Cargill H. Alleyne Jr., MD, and John R. Vender, MD, and others. “These new procedures let us more safely remove skull base tumors, preserve or restore neurological function and help patients maintain their quality of life,” says Dr. Solares.

The center also offers traditional surgeries for patients

New minimally invasive surgery options for skull base tumors

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who are not candidates for minimally invasive options.

Multidisciplinary care Care is delivered by a team that includes:

• otolaryngologists (head and neck surgeons) • neurosurgeons • neuroradiologists • plastic surgeons • oral maxillofacial surgeons • nurses and skilled operating room staff

umors of the skull base—the part of the body

Benefits of endonasal skull base surgery

that separates the brain from facial structures— present special surgical challenges because of the

complex anatomy of the skull base. Tumors in this region can affect the brain, hearing, vision and balance.

MCGHealth System has addressed these challenges by opening a new Skull Base Center. The center is staffed by a team of physicians who deliver leading-edge care and surgery for skull base tumors in adults and children. It is the only center of its kind in the area.

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his revolutionary new procedure: • lets patients avoid incisions, scarring and brain trauma • reduces hospital stays and recovery times • allows surgeons to operate on tumors that once may have been inoperable • offers surgeons better visualization for more precise surgery

Minimally invasive and traditional surgeries “Traditional skull base surgeries require the complete opening of the skull and pulling the brain back during surgery. This results in long hospital stays, lengthy recoveries and brain trauma,” says Arturo Solares, MD,

Get started To schedule an appointment or arrange a referral with a surgeon who specializes in skull base care, call 706-721-6100 or visit mcghealth.org/skullbase.

an otolaryngologist at the center.

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Heart-Healthy Living

Keep the beat New hope for complex arrhythmias

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f you experience a racing heart, fluttering in your chest or skipped heartbeats, you may have a cardiac arrhythmia. These occur when the electricity that Áows through the heart to trigger its pumping action “short-circuits,” disrupting the heart’s natural rhythm.

Although arrhythmias may occur in structurally normal hearts, they can also indicate serious heart disease. “It’s important to diagnose the problem and treat it if necessary,” says Adam Berman, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist, or heart rhythm specialist, with MCGHealth System Cardiovascular Center.

But irregular heartbeats can be difÀcult to pinpoint and treat.

Fortunately, new robotic technology known as Stereotaxis™ Remote Magnetic Navigation (RMN) is improving the treatment of even complex arrhythmias

Physicians use the robotic RMN system to safely place a catheter in a precise location for treatment.

in all four chambers of the heart. MCGHealth System Medical Center is one of only two hospitals in Georgia offering this technology.

Traditional cardiac electrophysiology catheterization When arrhythmias

With this new technology, we can safely pinpoint the precise location of the problem, position the catheter to deliver the required treatment and successfully restore a normal heart rhythm.

—Adam Berman, MD

persist, the treatment goal is often to ablate or destroy the damaged heart tissue causing the malfunction and restore regular heart rhythm. This is generally done through catheter-based electrophysiology (EP) studies and ablations.

Benefits of Stereotaxis™ technology • shorter procedures and faster recovery times • reduced exposure to X-ray radiation and contrast dyes • improved outcomes; the soft catheter decreases the risk of serious complications from perforation of blood vessels or heart tissue • a reduced likelihood of needing second catheterization procedures or highly invasive open heart surgery • an increased likelihood that patients with complex arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia can find interventional treatment and be successfully cured

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Stay on track with the MCGHealth System Heart Rhythm Center

In traditional cardiac EP procedures, physicians manually push a stiff catheter through the heart to map the cardiovascular system. But some areas of the heart are thin-walled, creating a risk of cardiac perforation during these procedures.

Improved access, better outcomes With the new robotic system, however, electrophysiologists use software and a control panel to drive powerful magnets positioned near the patient. The physician creates a three-dimensional map of the heart tissue using specialized software. The magnets then safely guide a soft catheter within the map and through the heart anatomy, allowing the physician to position the catheter in the precise location where ablation therapy is required.

The new system gives physicians safe access to even remote areas of the heart that were difÀcult, if not impossible, to reach before.

“With this new technology, we can safely pinpoint the precise location of the problem, position the catheter to deliver the required treatment and successfully restore a

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f you suffer from an irregular heartbeat, our fellowshiptrained electrophysiologists—Adam Berman, MD; Hitesh Mehta, MD; and Robert A. Sorrentino, MD— provide a full range of diagnostic and treatment options for adults and children. These include complex ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia and other conditions that are not available at other local hospitals. Services include: • conventional and robotic (Stereotaxis™) electrophysiology studies and catheter ablation procedures • tilt table testing to diagnose and help manage syncope, or fainting • licensed technicians • medications, pacemakers, implantable cardiodefibrillators (ICDs) and biventricular/cardiac resynchronization therapy device management • lead extraction • catheter cryoablation (freezing technology) for ablation of cardiac arrhythmias • ablation to stop arrhythmias, including radiofrequency catheter ablation • second opinions for arrhythmias and implanted device management • coordination of genetic testing for hereditary arrhythmia syndromes To learn more, visit mcghealth.org/heartrhythm.

normal heart rhythm,” Dr. Berman says.

© istockphoto.com/Pamela Moore

As a result, many patients can avoid second cardiac catheterizations and more invasive procedures, including

resonance imaging (MRI) equipment, which has been

open heart surgery.

widely used for more than 20 years.

“We are very excited to have this Stereotaxis™

Safely revolutionizing care The technology is safe for patients. The system’s

technology in our state-of-the-art electrophysiology lab.

Its attractive safety proÀle and incredible precision have

magnets generate magnetic Àelds that are less than

revolutionized catheter ablation for the treatment of

10 percent of the strength of Àelds used by magnetic

arrhythmias,” Dr. Berman says.

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Family Health

The autism alarm Watch for these red flags

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utism now affects one in every 110 children in the United States, with the average age at diagnosis being 4½ years. “But the prognosis is much better if a child is diagnosed as early as possible so he or she can begin therapies to help with language and social interaction,” says Caroline DiBattisto, MD, a behavioral developmental pediatrician with MCGHealth

System Children’s Medical Center. “The sooner a child is diagnosed and treated, the better.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pediatricians perform autism speciÀc screenings on children at 18 and 24 months of age.

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aroline DiBattisto, MD, a behavioral developmental pediatrician, recently joined the staff of MCGHealth System Children’s Medical Center. Dr. DiBattisto completed a pediatric residency and a three-year fellowship in behavioral developmental pediatrics. She evaluates, diagnoses, treats and coordinates care for referred patients from birth to age 21 who have or are at risk for developmental delays, developmental disorders, behavior disorders and learning problems. For more information, visit mcghealth.org/kids or call 706-721-2191.

Be part of our Autism Support Group MCGHealth System recently launched an Autism Support Group. Monthly meetings will feature an education session, a question-and-answer session and support for families dealing with autism. For time and place, see “A shoulder to lean on” on page 2.

What are the signs?

Autism is marked by social and communication symptoms and repetitive behaviors. Danger signs include:

• not responding to his or her name by 12 months • not playing “pretend” games by 18 months • avoiding eye contact and wanting to be alone • exhibiting delayed speech or language. Children should say “mama” and “dada” around 6 months of age and their Àrst words around 12 months.

• repeating words or phrases over and over • repetitively Áapping hands, rocking or spinning • not pointing to objects to show interest by 14 months

• getting upset by changes in routine • being hypersensitive to sounds or textures “See your physician if your child exhibits these or other unusual behaviors,” Dr. DiBattisto says. “Early intervention can make a big difference in your child’s development and readiness for school.”

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© istockphoto.com/Kevin Klopper

Specialized care for developmental disorders

A guide to sickle cell disease

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ickle cell disease is an inherited disorder that affects red blood cells. In people with the disease, normally round red blood cells are often rigid, sticky and shaped like sickles. “These cells easily break apart and die, leaving patients anemic due to a chronic shortage of red blood cells,” says Betty Pace, MD, a pediatric hematologist/oncologist at MCGHealth System Children’s Medical Center. “They can also get stuck in small blood vessels, slowing oxygen Áow and causing episodes of pain and the risk of serious complications.”

Who is at risk?

The risk comes down to genetics. For a baby to be born with sickle cell disease, both parents must carry a sickle cell gene. In the United States, the condition most commonly affects African-Americans and Hispanics.

“Early diagnosis and comprehensive care of sickle cell disease signiÀcantly improves medical outcomes,” says Dr. Pace.

World-class care for sickle cell disease MCGHealth System Sickle Cell Center is a designated state center for the conÀrmation of children

Globally renowned expert joins the Children’s Medical Center

suspected of having sickle cell disease. The center offers newborn screening and conÀrmation testing, care and genetic counseling for children with sickle cell disease.

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he Medical College of Georgia has long played an important role in researching and developing clinical programs for sickle cell disease. That tradition continues with the addition of Betty Pace, MD, a distinguished pediatric hematologist/oncologist, to the medical staff at MCGHealth System Children’s Medical Center. She will hold the Francis J. Tedesco Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

Dr. Pace is a world-renowned physician-researcher specializing in sickle cell disease. She came to the children's hospital from the University of Texas at Dallas, where she served as a professor and director of the Sickle Cell Disease Research Center for eight years. Dr. Pace also served as the chief medical officer for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. In addition, she led a team that published a groundbreaking book used by medical professionals, community organizations and people with sickle cell disease and their family members.

Keep your family healthy To schedule an appointment with a pediatrician, visit mcghealth.org/kids or call 706-721-KIDS (5437).

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In the News

Name change will provide national recognition

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he Medical College of Georgia is changing its name to Georgia Health Sciences University.

To understand why, it’s important to review the organization’s history and evolution.

At its founding in 1828, MCG was called the Medical Academy of Georgia. The name was changed to Medical Despite the College of Georgia in history attached 1833, and the school to MCG, it’s time has been called MCG to rename the since 1950. organization to But a lot has changed reflect its true since the school’s founding. status.

MCG has added schools of Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Studies and Nursing to its School of Medicine. What was once purely a medical college has grown into a full-blown health sciences university.

Calling the university a “college” fails to capture the broad scope of its mission. It also creates confusion in

distinguishing MCG, the School of Medicine, from the other schools within the organization.

Despite the deep history attached to MCG, it’s time to

Ricardo Azziz, MD, MPH, MBA Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Medicine President, Medical College of Georgia, and CEO, MCG Health System, Inc.

rename the organization to reÁect its true status. Therefore, MCG will be renamed Georgia Health Sciences University, a change approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. The change will become effective February 1, 2011.

But because of its strong historical value and the deep attachment many people have to it, the School of Medicine will retain the name Medical College of Georgia. The four other schools will also be given college names.

• College of Dental Medicine • College of Allied Health Sciences • College of Nursing • College of Graduate Studies “Georgia Health Sciences University better deÀnes our institution as what it truly is— a comprehensive health sciences university and modern academic health center,” says Ricardo Azziz, CEO of MCG Health System, Inc.