There is a new procedure (Southside Hospital was the first on LI to use this) the Lariat heart procedure. Just what it sounds like, a lariat - a loop, a lasso, ....a suture that is used to tie off the left atrial appendage. Did you know you had an appendage at your heart? I never learned that in Anatomy and Physiology - memorizing the flow of blood through the heart - they never mentioned an appendage. In any event, this appendage may be a major source of blood clots that might lead to a stroke.
Dr. Altman started with the dry erase board and drew the heart, valves and the appendage on the top left section - the left atrium of the heart - sounds elementary - well his drawings, explanations of the procedure and follow up with video - was unbelievable. I wanted to be young and back in school to be a Doctor. That is a good educator, and a great surgeon.
These are the handouts because I could not begin to go into this procedure, the second procedure Cryoablation - uses cold to freezer burn the inside of the valves to stop the electrical impulses. The past procedure uses heat outside of the valves - this is proving to be as effective with less recovery.
Fabulous.
I, was not alone, in wanting more information from Dr. Altman.
The Lariat Heart Procedure (handout)
The Lariat Procedure (video)
Cryoablation (handout)
Cryoablation (video)
“Wherever the art of Medicine is loved,
there is also a love of Humanity. ”
~ Hippocrates
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