Love Your Heart: A Cleveland Clinic Podcast

When patients are scheduled for coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) they have many questions. Dr. Faisal Bakaeen, Director of the Coronary Artery Bypass Center answers: What is coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery?Who are best candidates for CABG?What are the types of grafts used and how do they differ? What type of incisions are used? Is there a difference between on pump and off pump bypass surgery?What other options are there for treatment? What can patients expect if they have coronary artery bypass surgery at Cleveland Clinic?

If you are at risk for losing a limb, learn how you can prevent amputation. If you have been told you need an amputation, there may be actions you can take to prevent limb loss. A team approach involving experts in care are needed to provide a tailored approach. Vascular surgeon Dr. Lee Kirksey provides an overview of what is involved in caring for a patient whose limb is at risk and the techniques available. #PADAwareness

New guidelines on primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in women were released in 2020, highlighting new risk factors special to women. Dr. Leslie Cho, Director of the Women’s Cardiovascular Center and Co-Section Head, Preventive Cardiology, talks about how your pregnancy or having auto-immune disease may be related to future heart disease. She also talks about the treatment of traditional risk factors in women.

As part of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Awareness Month, learn the symptoms of PAD, risk factors, and special considerations for patients with diabetes. Vascular surgeon, Dr. Lee Kirksey talks about what you should ask your doctor and treatment for PAD – most patients do not need surgery but good medical care and lifestyle changes – but – diagnosis and treatment are important. #PADAwareness

The Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute celebrates the 2000th transplant. Cleveland Clinic began innovative work on heart transplants in 1968, with the official beginning of the program in 1984. On average, Cleveland Clinic performs 50-60 transplants per year, including between five to eight pediatric transplants per year. The Cleveland Clinic’s program directors discuss the program overall, how pediatric and adult transplant teams work together, challenges and factors in the program’s success, response to COVID, and innovations in care.

Thoracic surgery involves surgery from the Adam’s apple to the navel – including the esophagus, trachea and lungs. Now surgeons are able to use the robot to make the smallest incisions even in some of the more complex cases. This can improve recovery time and quality of life after surgery.

Vascular specialist Dr. Jay Bishop talks about peripheral artery disease or PAD. Dr. Bishop explains what is PAD, who is at risk, symptoms of PAD, what to do if you have diabetes, tests for PAD, who provides vascular testing, the relationship between PAD and heart disease, goals for treatment and treatment options for PAD.

During the COVID-19, pandemic, Broken Heart Syndrome, also called Stress Cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy is on the rise. Dr. Nissen talks with Dr. Kalra about how stress cardiomyopathy feels like a heart attack but differs, it’s relationship to COVID-19, who is at risk, treatment, prognosis and what you should know about broken heart syndrome – or if you have the symptoms?

Dr. Steve Nissen talks with cardiologist Dr. Milind Desai and surgeon Dr. Nick Smedira, Directors of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, about current treatment options, such as medications and surgical therapy, what we have learned from years of experience with HCM at Cleveland Clinic, and a new innovative medication that is being researched that may reduce the need for – or delay surgery.

Ventricular tachycardia, particularly in the setting of heart failure, can be frightening. Recent research has provided better mapping techniques and tools to improve the treatment of ventricular tachycardia. Dr. Anter describes the multidisciplinary approach to treatment of ventricular tachycardia at Cleveland Clinic.