Miami, Fla. (December 2, 2015) – The new technique is designed to expedite patient recovery and improve patient prognosis.
The Center for Advanced Heart Therapies at Delray Medical Center in South Florida now offers a minimally invasive procedure for implanting ventricular assist devices (VADs), or heart pumps. A VAD is an alternative for patients who do not qualify for a heart transplant or a temporary solution for patients who are too sick to survive while awaiting a new heart.
The new implantation approach requires a small incision between the patient’s ribs on the left side of the chest, compared to traditional open heart surgery, which involves a large vertical incision through the center of the chest. Potential benefits include faster recovery times, reduced risk of infection, minimized blood loss and a decreased chance of scarring around the heart.
This innovative surgical technique at the Center for Advanced Heart Therapies is ideal for patients who are too sick to undergo traditional open heart VAD surgery, said Dr. Brian Bethea, regional medical director of cardiovascular surgery at Tenet Healthcare’s Florida Region. ―I am proud to be part of a team that continuously strives to be at the forefront of advancements in cardiac care and expand the limits of treatment.
Congestive heart failure is a progressive and often fatal condition that weakens the heart so it is no longer able to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. The disease not only significantly limits life expectancy — with a typical prognosis of two to three years — but it robs patients of their quality of life, often leaving them too short of breath or too tired to go out, travel or even dress themselves.
VAD implantation brings new hope to patients by potentially increasing their quality of life and enabling them to live longer than previously possible.
About Tenet Florida International:
With its close proximity and world-class healthcare, south Florida has been a preferred destination for patients from the Caribbean and Latin America seeking healthcare outside of their borders. As one of the largest healthcare networks in south Florida, Tenet Florida hospitals and outpatient centers are swiftly becoming a favored choice for health services by international patients. Tenet Florida comprises nine acute care hospitals with ten sites of service throughout Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.
Tenet Florida Hospitals’ specialized centers of excellence include:
• 2 major trauma hospitals (Level I)
• 1 pediatric hospital
• 6 bariatric centers
• 5 cardiac centers
• 10 orthopedic hospitals
• 3 NICU centers – level III (highest certification)
• 4 oncology centers
• 10 comprehensive & primary stroke centers
• 1 pediatric cardiology center
• 1 pediatric neurosurgery center
• 1 gamma knife center
Together, the nine hospitals with ten sites of service provide some of the most comprehensive, specialized medical, surgical and outpatient services in a single healthcare network. From the routine to the most challenging cases, Tenet Florida hospitals and outpatient centers have a strong reputation for delivering high quality healthcare and outstanding customer service. (PR)
