When Kelly was pregnant with identical twins, she learned she had a rare condition called twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). TTTS wasn’t unfamiliar to Kelly, who is an identical twin herself—her mother had been diagnosed with the same condition while pregnant with Kelly. WashU Medicine physicians at Barnes-Jewish Hospital were able to perform a minimally invasive laser surgery to help Kelly’s babies.

Thousands of Americans are waiting for lifesaving organs, but there are not enough deceased donors to help everyone. When she gave a kidney to save her father, Erica joined a growing community who help people with kidney or liver disease get a second chance at life: living organ donors.

Traditional thyroid surgery can help treat Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or cancer. However, it can leave a visible 2-inch scar that caused some patients concern. A new endoscopic thyroid procedure leaves no visible scar, helping patients regain their peace of mind as well as confidence.

From the earliest understanding of the body’s circulatory system to today’s groundbreaking treatments, the practice of heart and vascular medicine has continuously evolved in the search for new and better ways to protect and preserve the heart’s essential functions. Specialists at the Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Heart & Vascular Center are at the vanguard of this evolution, discovering new treatments and advancing compassionate care.