Heart & Vascular News

The Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Heart & Vascular Center and the American Heart Association are partnering on a new initiative to improve the heart health of St. Louisans with the “My Heart. My Life.” program.

Herbert Sheingold had just graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine then the United States entered World War II. He joined the Army and, as a soldier, traveled to New Guinea, Australia and the Philippines.

A highly specialized approach to open heart surgery, a minimally invasive mini-thoracotomy, allows those with mitral heart valve problems to recover faster with less pain and smaller scars.

The Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital Heart and Vascular Center is a 2011 recipient of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Mission: Lifeline Silver Award. The award recognizes the success of Barnes-Jewish and their physician partners at Washington University School of Medicine in providing quality care to heart attack patients.

A recommendation by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel could soon lead to approval of transcatheter aortic valve implantation.