Patient Stories
A simple procedure which allows chronic heart failure patients to lead a better quality of life.... Read Terry's story. Watch Terry's video.
Heart Surgeries & Treatments
St. Luke's is the only hospital in Cedar Rapids performing open-heart surgery. For patients with severe arterial blockage, it can be a life-saving treatment option. The latest technologies also offer more minimally-invasive techniques to treat some heart conditions.
Working with an excellent hospital team, heart surgeons perform the very latest and most effective procedures, including:
Angioplasty
St. Luke's offers a number of options to treat arterial blockages. Balloon angioplasty uses a small, inflatable device to open a narrowed artery. Another option is cutting blade angioplasty where tiny blades shave away plaque to open a blockage.
For blockages caused by a blood clot, doctors can use the AngioJetTM, which uses saline jets to break up the clot and vacuum away the tiny fragments. Similarly, the Rotablator®, a small, football-shaped drill bit, can also reduce plaque to microscopic particles.
Once the artery is opened with angioplasty, stents may be inserted. A stent presses the plaque against the artery wall to keep the artery open.
Because scar tissue can develop around the stent, some patients may receive stents that release medicine to prevent it. If scar tissue does form, our Beta-CathTM System uses low-level radiation to destroy cells that create scar tissue and clear the arteries.
Cryoablation
A potentially life-saving treatment for patients with arrhythmia - an irregular heartbeat- cryoablation freezes the heart tissue temporarily in order to restore normal rhythm. A minimally-invasive procedure, it allows the doctor to locate and repair the source of the arrhythmia without damaging the heart. It is performed on an outpatient basis in just a few hours, and patients can resume normal activities in a matter of days.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
Patients who experience more serious arrhythmia, may benefit from a defibrillator. This heartbeat-regulating device is implanted under the skin of the upper chest. When an older pacemaker or defibrillator lead needs to be removed or replaced, the Excimer laser is used to precisely cut away built-up scar tissue.
Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP)
For patients with angina, EECP uses inflatable external cuffs placed on the legs to create natural bypasses around clogged arteries. This treatment increases blood flow to the heart and can greatly reduce and even eliminate the almost paralyzing pain that accompanies angina.
Healthcare Associated Infection Rates
At St. Luke’s, we continually work to provide the best care possible for our patients. One way in which we do that is by constantly monitoring and working to eliminate healthcare-associated infections. A recent Iowa Healthcare Collaborative (IHC) report shows the results of the 2011 study which outlines the progress Iowa Hospitals have achieved regarding reducing infections. The results are below and the full report is available here.
The 2011 report includes information for which Iowa hospitals voluntarily collect and report data with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes and reducing infections. IHC has been releasing to the public, hospital-specific healthcare-associated infection (HAI) performance information in its Iowa Report since 2005. “Healthcare quality, improvement and transparency are the cornerstones to the healthcare we provide.” said Sherrie Justice, St. Luke’s director of performance improvement. “The 2011 IHC report follows through on our commitment to our patients and healthcare providers.”
Download a pdf of the complete 2011 Iowa Healthcare Collaborative Study on Healthcare Associated Infection Rates report.
For more information on any of these therapies and treatment options, talk with your doctor, e-mail us or call 319/369-7318.
