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Fast Action Helps Donna Recover From Stroke Quicker

Donna was with her son Brian when he noticed that the left side of her face was drooping, and then she collapsed.

As an emergency room nurse at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, Brian recognized the signs of a stroke and told his mom, "I think you're having a stroke," before beginning an assessment and calling 911.

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Living Life With MS

"I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis when I was seventeen," Jenni Cusumano said. "As a 35-year-old woman who's lived with MS for over half my life, I don't remember what life was like before my diagnosis."

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Show Me 100 for MS

Matthew Porter was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2014 at the age of 37 and has used his condition as a catalyst for change in his life. As a husband and father of three teenage children, he has a passion for living life to the fullest. “Having MS has made me more aware of my time, and I want to invest it in things that matter and make a difference.”

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Heart Valve Surgery Gives New Lease on Life

Looking forward to resuming their active lifestyle in 2022, Connie and Arlin have two trips planned early in the year. Connie said that her heart surgery has given her a new lease on life. "Every time I'm at Missouri Baptist, I feel cared for, listened to and taken seriously. I always tell people that if you have heart problems, go to MoBap."

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New Technology for Treating Cardiac Arrhythmias

The new technology at MoBap — robotic magnetic navigation (RMN) — introduces the benefits of robotic precision and safety to cardiac ablation, a common, minimally invasive procedure used to treat arrhythmias

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Reducing Risk, Improving Rhythm: Treating Atrial Fibrillation
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/ Categories: Heart, Innovations in Care

Reducing Risk, Improving Rhythm: Treating Atrial Fibrillation

Surgery Options to Correct Atrial Fibrillation

At Missouri Baptist Medical Center cardiac surgeons have treated atrial fibrillation surgically since 2001. Surgery for atrial fibrillation is designed to restore patients to a regular heart rhythm, thereby reducing or eliminating the symptoms associated with atrial fibrillation including risk of stroke. In addition, many patients are able to stop usage of medications required to treat atrial fibrillation.

MAZE Procedure

More than 70 modified MAZE procedures have been performed at Missouri Baptist Medical Center.  This is the most effective treatment for atrial fibrillation to date. This operation involves isolating the triggers of atrial fibrillation, and more importantly, disrupting the electrical pathways responsible for maintaining atrial fibrillation once it develops.

It is an open heart operation requiring an incision through the breastbone and the support of the heart-lung machine while operating inside the heart. Scar tissue is created within the walls of the heart at precise locations using, most commonly, radiofrequency energy. This scar tissue is electrically insulated and changes the abnormal electrical circuitry responsible for atrial fibrillation.

New Advance:  Mini-MAZE Procedure

The Mini-MAZE procedure is a less invasive version of the traditional, open chest MAZE procedure, and is typically conducted as a treatment for atrial fibrillation in patients without other cardiac disorders.

The mini- Maze procedure involves small incisions on both sides of the rib cage under the armpits to address both the right and left side pulmonary veins.  Using video guidance, bipolar radiofrequency energy is used to isolate and remove the area of the heart tissue where the arrhythmias originate.

Advantages:

  • Mini-MAZE does not involve the breast bone
  • Heart lung machine is not used
  • Procedure completed in less than 90 minutes
  • 3 to 5- day hospital stay  with 2-week full recovery

For more information on the MAZE procedures for treatment of atrial fibrillation or to schedule an appointment, call MoBap at 314-996-3627.

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