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Newsletters April 2011 - Jefferson Cardiology HappeningsWhat's in this Newsletter:Our New Website Jefferson Cardiology Association is proud to announce that our newly updated website is now available at www.jeffersoncardiology.com. This site can provide much information to our patients and their families. There are sections of the site of interest to patients and their families. Persons can learn about multiple cardiac conditions and how the heart works. There is information about what to ex-pect during an office visit. There are new patient forms which can be com-pleted before a visit saving office time. There are also patient testimonials, practice news and the practice newsletter for patients. There is also information about medication refills, test results and medical record release. On the site, you may learn about the procedures done by the practice. Specifically, you may learn about catheterization procedures including angioplasty and stent placement as well as pacemaker insertion. Persons can learn about such diagnostic procedures as nuclear stress testing and echocardiography. Also, there is information about the arterial and venous procedures provided. We have just received our first monthly analysis of site traffic. We have learned that in less than a month, the site has had over 200 visits. Most of those visits came from the greater Pittsburgh area but search engines brought visits from the United Kingdom, India, Austra-lia and Russia. We encourage patients and pro-spective patients to visit our site. The information about cardiovascular disease and the patient oriented information may be of great benefit to you. ACC HighlightsEach year, Happenings informs patients of highlight clinical studies pre-sented at the annual meeting of the Am-erican College of Cardiology. This meeting just concluded and one of the highlighted presentations was the PARTNER Trial. This landmark study examined the technique of treating severe aortic stenosis in high risk patients by using a catheterization technique and compared results to surgical treatment. Aortic stenosis involves severe narrowing of the aortic valve through which blood is sent to the body from the heart. This condition is ultimately fatal if not treated surgically. Nonsurgical or catheterization-based aortic valve replacement has been available in Europe for some time but is now coming to the United States as a research protocol. In the current study, outcomes of catheterization-based technique, TAVI, and surgical aortic valve replacement were evaluated in high risk individuals. Two hundred surgically treated patients were compared to 244 patients treated with the valve changed by catheteriza-tion procedures initiated from the leg and 207 with direct cardiac puncture en-try were compared with 107 surgically placed valves. A Japanese study evaluated treatment of hypertensive, diabetic pa-tients treated with either Valsartan, Diovan, an ARB agent with Amlodipine, Norvasc, a calcium channel blocker. Previously it was thought that diabetics did better with ACE inhibitors or ARB agents. This study showed no difference in outcomes between the two drugs tested. In short, the overall incidence of cardiac events including heart attack, stroke, heart failure, coronary bypass, coronary angioplasty and sudden death was the same in each group. There was however less heart failure in the Valsar-tan treated group. Staff NewsPlease join us in wishing Valerie Rhall, ultrasound tech, and Kim Gray, receptionist, a very Happy Birthday. We hope you both have a very special birth-day. Sweet and Sour Turkey and Rice 16oz extra lean ground turkey 1 ¾ cups tomato sauce 1. In a large skilled sprayed with butter flavored cooking spray, brown turkey. A publication of Jefferson Cardiology Association Jefferson Hospital Medical Building Belle Vernon Office
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