The Center for Coronary Disease at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute focuses on treating patients with the most advanced strategies available in the world. Our successful program is evident by our superior clinical outcomes:
Clinical Outcomes Highlights
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One of the risks for all cardiac catheterization procedures is mortality (or death) of the patient. At the Center for Coronary Disease there have been no cardiac deaths related to the performance of a diagnostic cardiac catheterization. This includes over 3000 patients treated in 2007.
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The outcomes data for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary artery intervention at the Center for Coronary Disease were compared to two national registries - the American College of Cardiology, National Cardiovascular Data Registry and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Registry on Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. The incidence of mortality (or death) at the Center for Coronary Disease following percutaneous coronary artery intervention was substantially less than what has been reported in both national registries. This includes over 3000 patients treated since 2001.
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In comparison to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons national data, the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute has a zero percent operative mortality for complex cardiac surgeries. In addition to the surgeries reported above, the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute has a zero percent operative mortality for isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The absence of mortality for these complex cardiac procedures is a major achievement and reflective of the outstanding care received at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute.
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In addition, there have been no myocardial infarctions (or heart attacks) in patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization.
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The Center for Coronary Disease demonstrates a low incidence of myocardial infarction (or heart attack) occurring during percutaneous coronary artery intervention as compared to data reported in two national registries.
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The outcomes of patients presenting to the Center for Coronary Disease undergoing percutaneous coronary artery intervention for acute myocardial infarction have been compared to the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction and/or to a study of combined outcomes from 233 clinical research trials. The incidence of mortality (or death) within Center for Coronary Disease following this procedure is exceedingly low and compares favorably with patient outcome data reported in the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction and the 233 combined research clinical trials.
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Vascular complications are usually considered the most common complication following diagnostic cardiac catheterization. At the Center for Coronary Disease, there has been approximately a 1 in 1000 incidence of major vascular complications in patients undergoing a diagnostic cardiac catheterization. This is in contrast to the American College of Cardiology - National Cardiovascular Data Registry data, where this complication was noted in 4 in 1000 patients. Vascular complications include bleeding from the groin puncture site that may require additional therapy such as a blood transfusion.
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The need for emergency coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery due to unsuccessful angioplasty has been dramatically reduced by the use of drug eluting stents. Once again, in comparison to national registries, the Center for Coronary Disease performed at exemplary levels.
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It is widely accepted that is better to bypass a blocked coronary artery with arteries rather than veins from the body. At the Center for Coronary disease, multiple arterial grafts are routinely used for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and far exceed national standards. Specifically, bilateral (or both) internal mammary arteries were used in 13.7 percent of all isolated (one procedure performed during operation) CABG surgeries, compared to 4.5 percent nationally. Likewise, the radial artery was used in 12.0 percent of all isolated CABG surgeries, compared to 7.3 percent nationally.
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Arteries and veins used to bypass occluded (or blocked) coronary arteries may need to be harvested (or removed) from the body to be used for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. When an open harvest technique is used, a large incision is necessary. When an endoscopic harvest technique is used for the same purpose, only a small incision is necessary. The endoscopic harvesting technique results in less pain, less incisional complications such as infections, and a quicker recovery for the patient. At the Center for Coronary Disease endoscopic harvesting of saphenous vein and radial artery conduit is routine; being consistently performed over the last four years.
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Diagnostic cardiac catheterization is the gold standard test for diagnosing coronary and valvular heart disease. The Center for Coronary Disease has shown a steady increase in volume over the last five years.
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Sixty-two percent of the surgical procedures performed at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute were complex heart valve operations. In this scenario, "complex" refers to more than one procedure performed during the same operation. Examples of these complex procedures include more than one valve being operated on during the same operation, heart valve procedures done in conjunction with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, or heart valve procedures done in conjunction with atrial fibrillation surgery (Maze procedure). Twenty-five percent of the surgeries performed were isolated CABG. "Isolated" refers to when the CABG is the only procedure performed during the operation. "Other" procedures were responsible for 13 percent of the cases performed and include procedures such as but not limited to left ventricular aneurysm procedures, atrial septal defect repairs, isolated Maze procedures, and ventricular assist device implants.
Contact
The Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute's Center for Coronary Disease is led by medical director Charles J. Davidson, MD.
For more information regarding the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute or the Center for Coronary Disease, call (866) 662-8467, or request an appointment online.
