Ottawa Heart Institute staff and trainees featured prominently among award recipients again this year at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, with awards from several differ professional societies. Distinguished Teacher Award, Canadian Cardiovascular Society Kwan-Leung Chan, MD A cardiologist with...
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With next-generation DNA sequencing and patient-tailored therapeutics entering the market and significantly transforming lives, the era of precision medicine is upon us. What exactly is this bold new approach, and why does it promise to revolutionize how we improve heart health and treat its...
Canadians are living amid an explosion of information and innovation thanks to significant advances in data science and technology. Capable of seeing patterns in big data that would otherwise remain undetectable by humans, finding the proverbial needle in the haystack is now not only possible but...
Breast cancer awareness campaigns have dominated the media over the last twenty years in an effort to educate women about the risks of breast cancer and raise awareness for the disease. The implication of this pink takeover suggests women are aware of the risks of breast cancer, but are they...
BRUISE CONTROL-2: Continued vs. Interrupted use of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Pacemaker or Defibrillator Surgery Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use is common among patients requiring pacemaker or defibrillator surgery. However, the results of a new study led by Dr. David H. Birnie, MD, staff...
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...
Researchers at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute recently made an observation that has helped inform clinical practice in the treatment of patients with severe cardiogenic shock, a condition in which the heart suddenly can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs . In a recent study...
Cardiac rehabilitation is shown to be effective for improving morbidity and mortality and reducing subsequent events in patients with varying heart complications. However, researchers at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) contend that cardiac rehab programs do not benefit all patients...
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...
While some advocates contend marijuana is harmless, others are cautioning its long-term risks and benefits haven’t yet been carefully studied. One of the few things we do know is cannabis has notable effects on the heart, which, for some, are resulting in cardiovascular emergencies including heart attack, arrhythmias and stroke.
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...
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...
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...
The Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation is a highly successful and widely adopted program for getting hospitalized patients to quit smoking. The intervention is most effective when support continues beyond discharge. Staff follow-up is a resource-intensive approach to maintaining patient contact...
A review of 25 years of heart transplant cases showed that the surgical procedure is a highly effective form of treatment. Cardiac surgeon Dr. Marc Ruel presented findings from 461 Heart Institute transplant patients showing that survival rates are high. This is particularly true over the past...
Coronary artery disease is an inflammatory condition characterized by plaque deposits, which can rupture, causing heart attack and stroke. The Holy Grail for researchers remains finding a way to non-invasively determine which plaques are at risk for rupture. Several graduate students discussed...
With the recent understanding that progenitor cells in the adult body can help heal a damaged heart, both by repairing heart muscle tissue and building new blood vessels to supply oxygen, researchers have been looking for ways to help these cells work harder and live longer. Dr. Darryl Davis, an...
In a featured research presentation, surgical resident Dr. Joel Price discussed the use of a low-tech simulator to give trainee surgeons after-hours practice time to hone their technique. Surgical skills are usually learned directly on patients in the OR, but a variety of evolving issues are making...
Dr. Michel Le May, Director of the Heart Institute Regional STEMI Program, discussed the impact of bleeding on mortality in patients referred to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; angioplasty and stenting) through the STEMI heart attack program. Patients who had a major or minor...
Each year, the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress draws thousands of professionals from across the country to share their expertise and learn about the latest developments in cardiovascular medicine. The Heart Institute continued to increase its impact with more than 125 program items (pdf), not to...