West Michigan Cardiothoracic Surgeon PLC...
Our group has been serving the needs of West Michigan patients for more than 50 years. The surgeons of WMCTS, with 80 years of combined experience, employ the latest and most comprehensive surgical approaches for the treatment of a variety of cardiothoracic conditions. Our skilled surgical team is dedicated to providing unparalleled, personalized care and to improving the quality of life for our patients.
Cardiac Transplantation...
This past November, The Richard DeVos Heart and Lung Transplant Program, a part of the Fred and Lena Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute at Spectrum Health, celebrated the first anniversary of heart transplantation in Grand Rapids. The surgeons of West Michigan Cardiothoracic Surgeons PLC have performed 15 transplants to date with an expected survival of ninety-three percent.
With the addition of heart transplantation at Spectrum Health, we have the capability of offering our patients all possible treatment options when it comes to advanced heart failure. In the past, patients would have to travel long distances, often at great inconvenience to receive a transplant.
The Richard DeVos Heart and Lung Transplant Program complements our already established and successful Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Program. Of the 15 heart transplants preformed, 11 of the patients had a VAD in place at the time of their transplant. The VADs were initially placed as a “bridge” to transplantation because a transplant was not available, necessitating the use of a device. These patients were quite ill and likely to die had this "bridge" not sustained them. The “artificial hearts” or VADs can prolong life, often improving the overall condition of the patient until an appropriate organ becomes available.
The majority of transplantation is preformed for patients with severe congestive heart failure. On occasion, patients may have malignant heart rhythms or severe chest pain that is not treatable with angioplasty or bypass surgery. These patient may also qualify for transplantation.
The process of patient evaluation for transplantation is quite extensive. Our patients undergo a complete and detailed evaluation by a transplant committee prior to being placed on a wait list for an available organ. There are many inclusion and exclusion criteria for transplantation. A complete list of the criteria maybe obtained on the Spectrum Health website: Transplant Criteria.
Transplantation requires a multi-disciplinary team approach. The surgeons of WMCTS are an integral part of that team. The team is comprised of advanced heart failure cardiologists, infectious disease specialists, radiologists, ICU specialists, coordinators, social workers, rehabilitation and nutrition specialists, psychiatrists and psychologists who work together to ensure our excellent results.
Patients who receive heart transplants have excellent long-term survival. Over 50% of recipients are alive over 10 years and survival over 20 years has been reported. Post-operatively, patients who have received a transplant must take lifelong medications to prevent rejection of the organ(s). Most episodes of rejection occur in the first year after transplantation. Patients may develop problems related to the immunosuppressive medications such as infection and high blood pressure. Careful monitoring of our patients in the Transplant Clinic minimizes these problems and generally leads to a very normal lifestyle after transplantation.
WMCTS Participates in Non-Surgical Heart Valve Clinical Trial...
Spectrum Health announced participation in the Medtronic CoreValve U.S. Clinical Trial, which will evaluate a transcatheter alternative to open-heart surgery for patients with severe aortic stenosis. The study will take place at the Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center. The Meijer Heart Center is among approximately 40 hospitals across the U.S. that will participate in this trial. The trial is expected to last for the next 5 years.
The CoreValve System is designed to provide a minimally invasive, transcatheter treatment option for patients with symptomatic, severe aortic stenosis who are at high risk, or are ineligible, for open-heart surgery. Worldwide, approximately 300,000 people have been diagnosed with this condition (100,000 in the U.S.), and approximately one-third of these patients are deemed at too high a risk for open-heart surgery, the only therapy with significant clinical effect that is currently available in the United States.
The valve replacement procedure channels a catheter (thin tube) with a prosthetic valve through the femoral artery to reach the heart. The CoreValve System is designed with self-expandable technology, deploying the valve inside the diseased aortic valve without open-heart surgery or surgical removal of the native valve.
Placing a catheter into an artery in the groin or shoulder is the most common approach in this procedure. In atypical cases, a catheter can’t be threaded through groin or shoulder arteries because of issues such as small arteries, or previous grafts, so a different approach is required.
Spectrum Health physicians were among the first in
the country to take a novel investigational approach called direct aortic access. In this procedure, an incision is made in the chest to expose the aorta, the main artery of the heart. The catheter is placed directly into the aorta, maneuvered into the heart and then the valve is placed.
Only six direct access cases have been done in the U.S.and Spectrum Health has done three. Five heart centers in the country have beenselected to initiate this approach.
This study is directed by two co-principal investigators associated with the Spectrum Health Frederik Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute. Cardiologist William Merhi, MD, of West Michigan Cardiology and cardiothoracic surgeon John Heiser, MD, of West Michigan Cardiothoracic Surgeons will coordinate the studyand perform the cases.
“We’re excited to partner with other leading cardiac specialists in the U.S.to study this technology,” said Merhi. “The boundaries of medical treatment are constantly being expanded, and our Heart and Vascular Institute is proud to be part of this.”
“The trend of developing less invasive ways treat patients has been evolving for decades,” said Heiser. “If this investigational treatment is effective, we will have the ability to provide a minimally invasive approach for patients who are not candidates for traditional valve surgery. It would advance cardiac care for people in West Michigan.”
The Medtronic CoreValve U.S. Clinical Trial will enroll more than 1,200 patients at 40 U.S. clinical sites, including the Meijer Heart Center. Outside the U.S., CoreValve received CE (Conformité Européenne) Mark in Europe in 2007.
The Heart & Vascular Institute is currently enrolling patients in the trial. For more information about participating in this clinical trial, contact William Merhi, DO at 616-456-9553 or John C. Heiser, MD at 616-459-7258 or e-mail: CoreValve@spectrumhealth.org.
The above article appeared in a press release from Spectrum Health dated August 1, 2011.
Justin Fanning, MD...
WMCTS is pleased to announce the addition of Justin Fanning, MD to our cardiothoracic surgical group. A graduate of the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Dr. Fanning has trained in residencies in general and thoracic surgery.
Since his relocation from Branson, Missouri, Dr. Fanning has been providing coverage in both the Grand Rapids and Muskegon locations. The surgeons of WMCTS are thrilled to welcome Dr. Fanning and his family
to West Michigan. They are confident that he will be a great addition to
their team of highly skilled surgeons.