Barnes-Jewish Hospital | Washington University Physicians
For a patient with severe heart failure, the Ross Procedure offered hope

For a patient with severe heart failure, the Ross Procedure offered hope

Growing up, Christopher Bryant couldn’t compete in sports or run due to a heart murmur. When he tried to keep up with the other kids, he’d pass out. At 9 years old, Chris underwent heart surgery and doctors discovered he had a bicuspid aortic valve, a congenital heart defect. He learned to take care of himself due to his condition, but his symptoms — like swelling in his lower extremities — only worsened. Eventually, he learned he had severe heart failure. Read More
EVOLUTION OF HEART-VALVE REPAIR

EVOLUTION OF HEART-VALVE REPAIR

Study the anatomy of a human heart, and you’ll notice there are four chambers and four valves that work sequentially to move blood into the heart and then out into the body. As the heart contracts and relaxes, its valves work in a set order, opening and closing to ensure that blood flows in one direction. Advances made in cardiology and heart surgery now allow specialists to repair or replace any of the heart valves using a variety of techniques, including minimally invasive surgery.

Read More
ONCOLOGY REPORT: THERANOSTICS DELIVERS A ONE-TWO PUNCH

ONCOLOGY REPORT: THERANOSTICS DELIVERS A ONE-TWO PUNCH

Many of us are familiar with the most common strategies for treating cancer: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. But in the past two decades, more targeted treatments have been developed. One such innovation, called theranostics, uses specially engineered radioactive tracers in combination with advanced imaging techniques, to not only find and map cancer cells throughout the body, but also serve as a beacon, lighting a path that cancer-destroying drugs can follow.

Read More
BREAST-DENSITY CHANGES LINKED TO CANCER RISK

BREAST-DENSITY CHANGES LINKED TO CANCER RISK

Many middle-aged and older women get mammograms every one to two years to screen for breast cancer. When specialists read these mammograms, they assess breast density along with signs of cancer, comparing a woman’s previous mammograms to her most recent one to look for worrisome changes. But some changes are difficult to detect by eye. A study by researchers indicates that previous mammograms hold underutilized data that could help identify women at high risk of breast cancer.

Read More
FROM SILENCE TO SOLUTIONS: TREATING PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE

FROM SILENCE TO SOLUTIONS: TREATING PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE

Pelvic organ prolapse – which occurs when the uterus, bowel, bladder or top of the vagina “drops” or bulges into the vagina – affects one in four women in their 40s and half of all women in their 80s, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The condition can cause serious discomfort and affect everything from a woman’s ability to work, exercise and control her bowel and bladder function. When treated, it can result in the resolution or minimization of symptoms.

Read More
1345678910Last

What is Trending: