The American Heart Association Scientific Sessions is the largest conference for cardiovascular science and medicine in the world. The staff of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute is once again responsible for many expert clinical talks and research presentations. This guide highlights those...
Search
Displaying 21 - 40 of 192
The world’s largest cardiovascular conference, the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, convenes in New Orleans on November 12. The Ottawa Heart Institute has 45 program items on the agenda covering a wide range of science and clinical practice. Find it all with our program guide. 2016...
Aortic disease is often referred to as a silent condition because there are usually no symptoms to alert either the patient or doctor. The consequences, however, can be catastrophic, as in the case of an aortic dissection—a tear in the wall of this major artery. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are...
The kid was no more than 7, a scruffy little dark-eyed boy who was followed everywhere by his younger brother. For days, they’d set up just outside the Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan, trying to make enough money selling drink boxes to survive. Like most boys his age, he couldn’t keep still, moving...
For a groundbreaking new technique to gain traction within the global surgical community, it must have a community of practice—“a community of surgeons,” explained Dr. Marc Ruel, “performing it regularly, who can give feedback to each other and develop new approaches and tricks within the technique...
Heart disease is different for women, and that difference is borne out in almost every aspect of the disease: the factors that lead to it, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and even risk of death. In fact, heart disease kills more women worldwide than all cancers, tuberculosis, AIDS and malaria...
From the operating room and catheterization lab to the intensive care unit, cardiac anesthesiologists are central to patient care. Often, it is their role to shepherd the sickest and most complex patients through recovery. Stéphane Lambert, MD, is the recently appointed Division Head for Cardiac...
Cardiac procedures are a study in teamwork. Whether inserting a stent, implanting a pacemaker or performing corrective surgery, a team of professionals, each with a different set of skills, works in unison to achieve the best possible outcome for the patient. “These are very much multidisciplinary...
Survival rates for cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting are poor. Only about 5% of people survive, though encouraging people to get trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the placement of defibrillators in public places like sports and recreation facilities have improved the...
Tending to a sick loved one can be fulfilling, and it can bring deep satisfaction to a caregiver.
The heart is more than just a muscle. A complex electrical system drives the heart’s chambers to contract in a coordinated rhythm, pushing blood out to every cell in the body. When the system is damaged by heart disease, short circuits can result, causing dangerous disturbances in heart rhythm...
Cardiac rehabilitation, a comprehensive program to get patients healthy again after heart attack, cardiac surgery or other cardiac events, has been shown to save lives. But what if patients waiting for non-emergency heart surgery could start improving their health before their procedure? Could that...
When you enter the rehabilitation area of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, it looks very much like a gym—treadmills, stationary bikes and elliptical trainers, all surrounded by a four-lane track. So you might think rehabilitation is all about physical fitness, but there’s much more to it...
It’s been shown to lower death rates from heart disease and even from other causes after the onset of cardiovascular disease, and it helps patients achieve a better quality of life. In fact, cardiac rehabilitation is a key “next step” in the recovery process following a heart attack or procedures...
A complex condition that is not well understood, cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) can affect the electrical pathways in the heart and cause potentially serious irregular heartbeats, known as arrhythmias. In May of this year, the Heart Rhythm Society released the first international guidelines for diagnosing...
Within the past year, the Division of Cardiology at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute has cast a wide net, reaching across the globe to expand its roster with talented young physicians. These four new staff members represent five continents among them and bring extensive training from leading...
A heart attack or cardiac surgery is a major event. It has a ripple effect that impacts not just the patient, but family and friends as well. Lives can change, often for the long term, casting loved ones in the role of caregiver. These changes can be stressful, unexpected and, over time, draining. A...
The repetitive nature of caring for a loved one recovering at home can be emotionally draining for a caregiver. Tasks such as helping that loved one get out of bed each morning, dress, bathe and eat can also be physically challenging. When a recovering patient can carry out these activities of daily...
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate Communication is the foundation of any good relationship. This becomes even more important when dealing with the upheavals and uncertainties of cardiovascular disease. “Life-threatening events threaten bonds,” said psychologist Heather Tulloch, PhD. “It’s...
Several leading voices in cardiovascular medicine spoke out strongly at this year’s Congress about the looming crisis in health care and the need for the system to finally take prevention seriously. This message rang out from both sides of the border and took centre stage (that is “center” for our...