Only At Porter

From the 2010 Winter StayHealthy publication

‘Virtual Tour’ of heart helps patients, guides surgeons…

Porter is the first hospital in the region to add an exciting new tool to its Cardiac & Vascular Institute. The new tool has a complicated name, but it’s simplifying life for patients and surgeons alike. It’s called 3-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography (3-D TEE) and it provides stunningly accurate, real-time, and three-dimensional images of the heart.

Using 3-D TEE, a viewing tube and small transducer are passed down the esophagus, allowing the technician to transmit sound waves to the heart from inside the body. The images are in live motion and show blood flow, direction, and volume, enabling cardiologists to visualize any possible leaks. Because the images are taken internally, 3-D TEE produces the clearest, most accurate real-time images of the heart.

Patients benefit from:

• Comfort: The procedure takes less than an hour and it’s non-invasive, using only moderate sedation. Most patients don’t even remember the procedure once it’s concluded.
  
• Accuracy: Real-time, 3-D pictures provide for more accurate diagnoses without the need for surgery.
  
• Affordability: 3-D TEE is less expensive than an MRI. Timeliness: Images are in real-time, enabling a cardiac team to diagnose a patient on the spot and quickly suggest treatment options.

In some cases, 3-D TEE has even helped Porter’s cardiologists to determine that surgery isn’t necessary. “Using 3-D TEE we can see things that we needed an open chest to see in the past. Now we can offer patients and surgeons a ‘virtual tour’ of the beating heart, without opening the chest,” said Allen Miller, Director of the Cardiology Service Line for Porter’s Cardiac & Vascular Institute. “If surgery is needed, 3-D TEE can improve our outcomes by allowing our surgeons to know exactly what to expect. This leaves nothing to the imagination,” he said.

“I was dreading heart surgery”
3-D TEE images reveal nonsurgical options

At 29, Jill Bennett of Lake County had a lot to look forward to. And then came the diagnosis: “I was told I needed double heart valve replacement,” said Bennett. “It was extensive surgery that would alter my lifestyle forever. I was scared,” she said. Looking for a second opinion, Bennett turned to the experienced team of cardiologists at Porter.

Bennett met with Walid Khabbaz, MD, and Akram Kholoki, MD, and learned about Porter’s exciting new diagnostic tool – 3-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography (3-D TEE). The technique provides detailed, real-time images of the heart. These images revealed that Bennett didn’t need full valve replacement. Her condition could be treated with medication, with the possibility of a single valve replacement in the future.

The new diagnosis was possible because of the better images. Not only does 3-D TEE provide superior imaging, it’s also comfortable and non-invasive. Porter is the only hospital in Northwest Indiana to have 3-D TEE technology.

Today, Bennett is moving on with her life, assisted only by medication. “I’m relieved and grateful this was available. It gave me a better option for a better future,” she said.

Our team at Porter’s Cardiac & Vascular Institute

CARDIOLOGISTS
Keith M. Atassi, MD
John A. Forchetti, MD
Fred J. Harris, MD
Akram Kholoki, MD
Daniel P. Linert, MD
Hector J. Marchand, MD
M.S. Rao, MD
Sandeep Sehgal, MD
Michael L. Wheat, MD

CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEONS
George Berberian, MD
Thomas K. Kalmbach, MD
Walid Khabbaz, MD
Joseph A. Venditti, MD

CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGISTS
Raghuram Dasari, MD
Mark A. Dixon, DO
Scott Kaufman, DO

Be Heart Smart Porter Cardiac & Vascular Institute Screenings

Close to half of us are missing opportunities to improve our heart health because of undiagnosed conditions. Don’t add to that statistic, schedule your screening today.

Porter’s $85 Comprehensive Cardiac Screening includes:

• PAD (peripheral artery disease) screening of lower extremities
  
• Echocardiogram to evaluate cardiac structure and function
  
• Carotid exam to examine any plaque buildup in the carotid arteries which can lead to strokes
  
• AAA (abdominal aortic aneurysm) screening
  
• Single-lead EKG strip to assess heart rhythm abnormalities
  
• Laboratory tests to reveal cardiovascular health, including lipid screening, CRP (C-reactive protein) screening, and blood sugar screening

Schedule your appointment at 219.263.LIVE (219.263.5483)

Payment due at the time of screening. Cash or credit cards accepted.

Health eCooking on the Web!
When you’re looking for healthy and delicious recipes, look to Porter’s website at www.porterhealth.com. Our new feature, Health eCooking includes great recipes and cooking videos for making heart healthy, diabetes-friendly, and even gluten-free choices.