Cardiology

Study Led by Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute Finds Widespread Evidence of Heart Disease in Ancient … – Saint Luke’s Health System

KANSAS CITY, Mo. Heart disease is usually thought of as a disease of modern times, but a new study of ancient mummies expands evidence that humans have suffered from the condition for thousands of years across the globe.

The findings of the Global HORUS Study, published in the European Heart Journal, suggests humans have an innate predisposition to atherosclerosis, or a build-up of plaque in the arteries that can lead to heart attack and stroke.

Researchers analyzed the CT scans from 237 adult mummies from around the world and found definite or probable atherosclerosis, marked by calcifications in the artery walls, in more than 37%.

The mummies were from seven different cultures spanning over 4,000 years and included ancient Egyptian, lowland ancient Peruvians, ancient highland Andean Bolivians, 19th century Aleutian Islander hunter-gatherers, 16th century Greenlandic Inuits, ancestral Puebloan, and Middle-Ages Gobi Desert pastoralists.

While previous research has found atherosclerosis in ancient mummies, the HORUS Study is the largest systematic study of the condition in ancient human remains across multiple eras and geographies.

We found atherosclerosis in all time periodsdating before 2,500 BCEin both men and women, in all seven cultures that were studied, and in both elites and non-elites, said Randall Thompson, MD, lead author of the study and cardiologist at Saint Lukes Mid America Heart Institute. This further supports our previous observation that it is not just a modern condition caused by our modern lifestyles.

Researchers note that although the frequency of the disease in the group studied may be surprising, especially since the estimated mean age of 40 is young by todays standardsmost cases were consistent with early disease that is often found incidentally on CT scans of modern patients.

This study indicates modern cardiovascular risk factorssuch as smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and poor dieton top of the underlying, inherent risk natural to the human aging process may increase the extent and impact of atherosclerosis, Dr. Thompson said. This is why it is all the more important to control the risk factors we can control.

Pointing out the studys limitations, including a varying degree of preservation and the impact of the mummification process on tissue, researchers note they were very conservative in assessing the presence of atherosclerosis while analyzing the scans.

Read the full article Atherosclerosis in Ancient Mummified Humans: The Global HORUS Study in the European Heart Journal.

About Saint Lukes Mid America Heart Institute Saint Lukes Mid America Heart Institute is part of Saint Lukes Health System, which serves the West Region of BJC Health System, one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the United States. The Heart Institute, a teaching affiliate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, is one of the distinguished cardiovascular programs in the country. Its legacy of innovation began more than 40 years ago when it opened as the nations first freestanding heart hospital. Since then, the Heart Institute has earned a global reputation for excellence in the treatment of heart disease, including interventional cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, imaging, heart failure, transplant, heart disease prevention, cardiometabolic disease, womens heart disease, electrophysiology, outcomes research, and health economics. Saint Lukes Mid America Heart Institute cardiologists offer personalized cardio-oncology care, where our experts diagnose and treat heart conditions in patients who have been or are being treated for cancer.

With more than 100 full-time, board-certified cardiovascular specialists on staff, Saint Lukes Mid America Heart Institute offers one of the country's largest heart failure and heart transplant programs, has the largest experience with transcatheter aortic valve replacement in the Midwest, and is a global teaching site for the newest approaches in coronary revascularization. The Heart Institute's cardiovascular research program encompasses clinical areas as well as centers of excellence and core laboratories. It continues to serve as one of the four Analytic Centers, along with Duke, Harvard, and Yale, for the American College of Cardiology's National Cardiovascular Data Registry.

Saint Lukes Mid America Heart Institute is ranked 47th in the nation for Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery by U.S. News & World Report and is the third hospital in the U.S. to achieve the Comprehensive Cardiac Center certification from The Joint Commission.

Media Contact

Lindsey Stich,lstich@saintlukeskc.org

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Study Led by Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute Finds Widespread Evidence of Heart Disease in Ancient ... - Saint Luke's Health System

Cardiology

Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, Receives Prestigious Award From World Heart Federation – Mount Sinai

The World Heart Federation (WHF) is honoring Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, President ofMount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospitaland Physician-in-Chief of The Mount Sinai Hospital, with its Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024. This top honor recognizes his remarkable contributions to the WHF mission, and to the entire cardiovascular disease community for his dedication to combating this disease worldwide.

The WHF will present Dr. Fuster with this award on Saturday, May 25, during the World Heart Summit in Geneva, Switzerland.

I am proud of this award, particularly because it represents Mount Sinais worldwide scientific contributions and dedication to advancements in the cardiovascular field, says Dr. Fuster.

Dr. Fuster is a pre-eminent leader in cardiovascular medicine. His contributions to the field, and to prevention and treatment of heart disease globally, are unparalleled. Dr. Fuster was named Director of the Cardiovascular Institute at Mount Sinai in 1994, became Director of Mount Sinai Heart at its establishment in 2006, and held that position until the end of 2022. He built what is now known as Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital into one of the worlds leading centers for cardiovascular care, cardiac surgery, and advanced research. Dr. Fuster is also General Director of the Spanish National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC).

Dr. Fuster also helped develop a cardiovascular polypilla single pill that includes three medications typically taken separatelythat is effective in preventing secondary adverse cardiovascular events in people who have previously had a heart attack. Dr. Fuster and his team showed that the polypill reduces cardiovascular mortality by 33 percent in this population. This medication was recently included by the World Health Organization in itsList of Essential Medicinesand is pending Food and Drug Administration approval in the United States.

His research into the origin of cardiovascular events, which has contributed to improved treatment of heart attack patients, was recognized in 1996 by the Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research, the highest international award given by Dr. Fusters native Spain. In June 2011 he was awarded the Grand Prix Scientifique of the Institute of France for his translational research into atherothrombotic disease. Recently, he was named a Prince Mahidol Award Laureate in Thailand for his lifelong contribution to the field of medicine, and in 2022, the American College of Cardiology instituted the Valentin Fuster Award in Science and Innovation, which will be given to a single physician annually for the next 14 years.

Dr. Fuster has also received the highest awards for research from the four leading cardiovascular organizations: the American Heart Association (Gold Medal and Research Achievement Award), the American College of Cardiology (Living Legend and Life Achievement Award), the European Society of Cardiology (Gold Medal), and the Interamerican Society of Cardiology (Research Achievement Award). In May 2014, King Juan Carlos I of Spain granted Dr. Fuster the title of Marquis for his "outstanding and unceasing research efforts and his educational outreach work."

Mount Sinai is a World Leader in Cardiology and Heart Surgery

Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital at The Mount Sinai Hospital ranks No. 1 in New York and No. 4 globally according to Newsweeks The Worlds Best Specialized Hospitals. It also ranks No. 1 in New York for cardiology, heart, and vascular surgery, according to U.S. News & World Report.

It is part of Mount Sinai Health System, which is New York City's largest academic medical system, encompassing eight hospitals, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. We advance medicine and health through unrivaled education and translational research and discovery to deliver care that is the safest, highest-quality, most accessible and equitable, and the best value of any health system in the nation. The Health System includes approximately 7,400 primary and specialty care physicians; 13 joint-venture outpatient surgery centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and more than 30 affiliated community health centers. Hospitals within the System are consistently ranked by Newsweeks The Worlds Best Smart Hospitals and by U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals and Best Childrens Hospitals. The Mount Sinai Hospital is on the U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals Honor Roll for 2023-2024.

For more information, visithttps://www.mountsinai.orgor find Mount Sinai onFacebook,TwitterandYouTube.

About the Mount Sinai Health System

Mount Sinai Health System is one of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area, with 48,000 employees working across eight hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, more than 600 research and clinical labs, a school of nursing, and a leading school of medicine and graduate education. Mount Sinai advances health for all people, everywhere, by taking on the most complex health care challenges of our timediscovering and applying new scientific learning and knowledge; developing safer, more effective treatments; educating the next generation of medical leaders and innovators; and supporting local communities by delivering high-quality care to all who need it.

Through the integration of its hospitals, labs, and schools, Mount Sinai offers comprehensive health care solutions from birth through geriatrics, leveraging innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and informatics while keeping patients medical and emotional needs at the center of all treatment. The Health System includes approximately 9,000 primary and specialty care physicians and 11 free-standing joint-venture centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida. Hospitals within the System are consistently ranked by Newsweeks The Worlds Best Smart Hospitals, Best in State Hospitals, World Best Hospitals and Best Specialty Hospitals and by U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals and Best Childrens Hospitals. The Mount Sinai Hospital is on the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals Honor Roll for 2023-2024.

For more information, visithttps://www.mountsinai.orgor find Mount Sinai onFacebook,TwitterandYouTube.

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Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, Receives Prestigious Award From World Heart Federation - Mount Sinai

Emergency Medicine

The First10EM monthly wrap-up for May 2024 – First10EM

The First10EM monthly wrap up is a place for me to share updates about the website, about my academic life, and also interesting content, such as books, podcasts, and other FOAMed, that I have encountered in the prior month. Obviously the format means the focus is mostly on content I have found, but I hope the community gets engaged in the comments, sharing books, podcasts, FOAMed, or anything else that you think would benefit or delight the broader emergency medicine community.

I was at the North York General Emergency Medicine Update conference this month, which is always a great time. I recorded versions of my two talks RSI and then they die and a 2024 literature update so you can watch them even if you werent at the conference:

There were a few more videos added to the First10EM YouTube channel, which is really starting to take off, so make sure to subscribe if you havent.

Managing the bleeding tracheostomy

Oral antibiotics are better than IV

You MUST know how to perform Delayed Sequence Intubation

Not exactly high end fiction, but Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros has dragons and magic, and feels a little like a melding of Hunger Games and Game of Thrones? The sex scenes might be a little smutty for some peoples taste, and the story lacks the rich politics and deeper themes of truly great fantasy novels, but if you just want a fun page turner about a young woman trying to survive magic dragon school, you will probably enjoy this.

And yes, Fourth Wing was good enough that I did read the sequel, Iron Flame, immediately afterwards. It is a trilogy, and the third book isnt out yet. That has really burned me before (I am still desperately waiting for book 3 of the The Kingkiller Chronicle 13 years after finishing the second book), so maybe be cautious if you dont like picking up unfinished sagas.

The politics of intolerance based around anthropomorphized rabbits? If that sounds like your cup of tea, then The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde was a decent and somewhat humorous novel.

I might have suggested it before, but I was re-reading some chapters of Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Adventures in Philosophy with My Kids, and it is a really enjoyable and approachable book on philosophy.

I was a really busy month, so I spent very little time in the general media and FOAMed realm, but I would like to change that for next month, so if there are great podcasts, YouTube videos, or FOAMed that was recently published, please share it in the comments, so everyone can enjoy.

One of the few posts I did read was by Liz Crowe (so you know it is brilliant) on St Emlyns discussing Choosing with Intention.

I also relearned a lot of little things about physics in this Steve Mould video looking at a flame that is dark or absorbing light.

I would love some peoples thoughts on this: If potential knowledge is unlimited, but human life is distinctly limited, is the pursuit of knowledge pointless or problematic in some way? (Probably very poorly paraphrased from a number of Taoist texts. I believe the most common translation is perilous, but I am not sure what that means for my practical approach to life.)

In many ways, this adage seems antithetical to the way I lead my life. I find it interesting, and as long as one does not over-interpret it to the point of nihilism, it probably contains an important lesson. But I would really love to hear peoples thoughts.

Two men come to visit a Zen teacher to inquire about moving to his village.

The first man enters and says, I am thinking of moving to this village, how is it here? The teacher replies, Well, how is your current village? The man responds, Its terrible, I hate it there. The Zen teacher answers, This village is the same, you wont like it.

The second man enters and says, I am thinking of moving to this village, how is it here? The teacher replies, Well, how is your current village? The man responds, Its wonderful, I love it there. The Zen teacher answers, This village is the same, you will like it.

There is no such thing as philosophy free science, just science that has been conducted without any consideration of its underlying philosophical assumptions. Daniel Dennett

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The First10EM monthly wrap-up for May 2024 - First10EM

Emergency Medicine

Importance of Knowing How to do CPR – Cleveland Clinic Newsroom

CLICK HERE to download soundbites, b-roll, script and web article.

For download password, contact ccnewsservice@ccf.org.

CLEVELAND - Its National CPR and AED Awareness Week.

If you dont know how to do CPR, now is a good time to learn.

According to the Red Cross, immediate CPR can double or triple chances of survival after a cardiac arrest.

The big thing with having a sudden cardiac arrest is it can come from drowning or just the electrical system of the heart not working, said Steven Brooks, MD, emergency medicine physician for Cleveland Clinic. And the faster you can get the blood flowing in the body to the vital organs, the better outcome youre going to have.

Dr. Books said CPR should be performed in situations where a person isnt breathing or doesnt have a pulse.

Before you get started, make sure to call 9-1-1.

Chest compressions should then be done 100 to 120 times a minute.

Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is no longer recommended.

Dr. Brooks said AEDs can also be helpful in an emergency.

For those unfamiliar, these devices are often available in public places.

They work by analyzing the persons heart rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock.

The instructions are right inside. Once you open up the AED, it shows you exactly where to place the pads and hit the button that says analyze, said Dr. Brooks. It will direct you to do everything. That is one of the best ways to help revive somebody that has suddencardiac arrest outside of doing just your basic CPR.It's the next step in the chain of survival.

Dr. Brooks also recommends learning how to do the Heimlich maneuver in the event someone is choking.

If their airway remains blocked for too long, they could ultimately need CPR.

All of these skills are very important to know.

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Importance of Knowing How to do CPR - Cleveland Clinic Newsroom

Emergency Medicine

Bringing Accessible Emergency Care To The Community – Osprey Observer

Manatee Memorial Hospitals Emergency Care Center (ECC) treats more than 80,000 children and adult patients each year. The expanded center is just under 33,000 square feet, making it the largest ECC in the county.

Freestanding Emergency Departments

Manatee Memorial Hospitals freestanding emergency departments (FED) handle emergencies and are each fully staffed with a doctor on-site 24/7. They can perform CT scans as well as full X-rays, and they all have a comprehensive lab*. With the full services offered, the FEDs are not urgent care centers but are a part of Manatee Memorial Hospital.

Manatee County has grown exponentially in recent years, and yet the hospitals are stationary, said Teresa Rawe, D.O., medical director for emergency medicine at Manatee Memorial. We make it easier for patients to access emergency care.

Typically, our FEDs have a shorter waiting time to be seen, explained Tammy Sloas, nursing director at Manatee FEDs. If an admission is necessary, we will transport a patient to the hospital.

FEDs vs. Urgent Care Centers

Urgent care centers have set hours and treat nonemergency issues. However, most centers dont have comprehensive labs that can provide answers on-site and are limited in radiology services.

Educating the Community

The American College of Surgeons STOP THE BLEED program has prepared over 3 million people worldwide on how to stop bleeding in a severely injured person. Manatee Memorial brings this program to the community.

We are preparing the public to save lives by teaching actions to stop life-threatening bleeding following emergencies and man-made and natural disasters, said Jill Ruff, who oversees the program with emergency department paramedic Ed Wheat.

Shelly Lucchesi, employee health manager, added, Being able to tend to a bleeding wound while waiting for EMS to arrive may be the difference between life and death.

If youre having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

For information about locations, visit the hospitals website at http://www.manateememorial.com/emergency.

*These emergency departments are part of Manatee Memorial Hospital. They are not urgent care centers. Their services and care are billed at hospital emergency department rates. Wait times may vary.

Physicians are on the medical staff of Manatee Memorial Hospital, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Manatee Memorial Hospital. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit the hospitals website.

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Bringing Accessible Emergency Care To The Community - Osprey Observer

Emergency Medicine

Expanded emergency department set to open at Peconic Bay Medical Center – The Suffolk Times – Suffolk Times

Peconic Bay Medical Center held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Thursday to celebrate its newly expanded emergency department the Poole Family Trauma and Emergency Center which is expected to be up and running next month.

This expansion transcends infrastructure and ceremonial ribbons,PBMCexecutive director Amy Loeb said in a speech at the event. It symbolizes our steadfast dedication to extending a lifeline to those in distress, ensuring that our community has access to timely and compassionate care during critical moments Our facilities must evolve in tandem with our clinical capabilities.

The emergency department which is expanding by 75% will add patient beds, increase space for specialized care and introduce new technology, including a dual-bay trauma unit, comprehensive radiology capabilities and connectivity to Northwell Healths e-ICU system and telemedicine, according to hospital officials.

PBMC chair of emergency medicine Dr. Ninfa Mehta said in an interview that the new emergency department can now provide improved stroke care, improved cardiac care for heart attacks and improved trauma care.

She said patient volume at PBMC has grown significantly in recent years.

Its one of the fastest-growing Northwell [Health] sites and definitively the fastest growing hospital on the East End, she said. So we really need the space at this point.

The center is named for Tom and Mary Jane Poole of Westhampton Beach and Garden City, who made a $5 million cornerstone donation to the $15 million medical center expansion two years ago. Also on hand for the ceremony were two of the couples adult children, Shepard Poole and Stacey Poole Lahey, and their spouses.

Long-standing benefactors of PBMC and members of this beautiful community, Tom and Mary Jane embraced the idea of expanding the emergency department with unwavering enthusiasm and then they made it happen which is what they do, Ms. Loeb said. Whether its for health care or for education, they make things happen. They go all in. They are beautiful people and amazing.

In a short speech capped by a standing ovation, Mr. Poole championed the concept of taking big swings with community philanthropy.

Gesturing to John Kanas, whose donations funded theEast End Hospice Kanas Centerin Quiogue, and more recently, astate-of-the-art simulation labat PBMC, Mr. Poole said that I think my friend John Kanas knows when you make a gift, you do it after much consultation with your family and each other Its not an easy thing when you think that youre making a sizable gift that takes away wealth from your family. And it does. You only know what giving is when it affect[s] your net worth. Everything else is penny candy in relation to that.

In a tent filled with donors, doctors, nurses and EMT crews many of them uniformed firefighters Mr. Poole applauded the local medical community.

I would like all the physicians, nurses and staff members involved with that new trauma and emergency staff to stand up and receive our applause.

He also saluted Dr. Mehta, who will oversee the expanded emergency department, and PBMCs chair of cardiology, Dr. Stanley Katz.

Then Mr. Poole turned to the dozens of emergency medical technicians on hand.

I want each EMT unit in each ambulance to stand up and take our applause.

He praised his PBMC fundraising team.

I have the good fortune to be their leader in raising money and establishing parties like these where I can congratulate myself on the nice things I do, he said with a broad grin.

Then Mr. Poole, who with his wife will celebrate their 62nd wedding anniversary this weekend, shared some personal news.

Last summer, he said, I stood before most of you in perfect health, asking you to join me in raising a lot of money to bring the vision of Peconic Bay to reality.

But five weeks ago, I had my reality test, and guess who saved my life? You got it. Peconic Bay Medical Center, Stanley Katz and so many people that work here five weeks ago today I had a triple bypass and a valve replacement. And I stand before you as a living example that the sun does shine the next morning.

Pausing while the audience absorbed the news, Mr. Poole, 83, said that the life-saving surgery changed him.

If you ever hear me complaining about one thing? Kick me in my ass.

Mr. Pooles eyes were rimmed with tears as he concluded his speech, saying that he and his family are so happy to cut the ribbon.

They know we all know if you walk in [to PBMC], you will walk out. And the sun will shine.

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Expanded emergency department set to open at Peconic Bay Medical Center - The Suffolk Times - Suffolk Times

Emergency Medicine

Sporting Clays Tournament to Benefit Garnet Health Medical Center Emergency Department – Sullivan County Democrat

MIDDLETOWN Garnet Health Foundation invites all to its highly popular annual Sporting Clays Tournament, benefiting the Every Minute Counts campaign to renovate and expand Garnet Health Medical Centers emergency department.

Everyone from beginner to advanced is welcome to join in the excitement and fun taking place Friday, June 28, at Mid-Hudson Sporting Clays, 411 North Ohioville Road, New Paltz. Registration opens at 9:00 a.m., and the tournament begins at 10:00 a.m. The cost is $250 per shooter and includes 100 clays, a golf cart, shells, safety training and lunch. Gun rentals and sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Garnet Health Medical Center leads the region in access to state-of-the-art emergency care. The planned renovation will more than double the size of the emergency departmentfrom 45 treatment spaces to 100. It will also improve efficiencies while enhancing the patient experience. The expansion will increase capacity to 85,000 patient visits annually.

This fundraiser is fast becoming one of our most anticipated events of the year, and we once again thank Mid-Hudson Sporting Clays for hosting the tournament at their beautiful Hudson Valley location, said William Dauster, CFRE, Garnet Health Foundations president and chief philanthropy officer. Every 20 minutes, someone needs care in the emergency department. With our Every Minute Counts campaign, we will expand and enhance Garnet Health Medical Centers emergency department, all while confirming our promise to bring the very best in emergency medicine to the Hudson Valley region.

Those interested in participating in or sponsoring the Sporting Clays Tournament should reserve their space as soon as possible. For more information, visit garnethealth.org/sportingclays or call the foundation office at (845) 333-2333. Learn more about the foundation at garnethealth.org/foundation.

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Sporting Clays Tournament to Benefit Garnet Health Medical Center Emergency Department - Sullivan County Democrat

Emergency Medicine

Quick thinking leads to miraculous recovery of a stroke patient at VCU Health – VCU Health

By Leigh Farmer

Imagine watching your close friend and EMS surround you. Your eyes and ears take it all in, but you cannot move or speak.

This type of paralysis is called locked-in syndrome. It can happen when someone experiences a stroke.

I will never forget the paramedic. I kept going out and I remember he kept saying Chwanda look at me!, Chwanda Johnson recalled. She remembers everything from start to finish.

Sitting down with Chwanda, youll notice how she always has a smile on her face. It takes mere moments from the start of a conversation to see why she calls herself a jokester, others just start laughing right along with her. She even smiles when telling you about the scariest day of her life. November 7, 2023.

It was just like any other normal morning. I didnt feel anything different, the 49-year-old said, describing her early morning routine.

Chwanda usually hits the road at 6:30 a.m. to head to her job as a medical technician at a local senior living facility, where she has worked for more than 22 years. Usually, shes enthusiastic about getting a jump start on her day. But on that November morning, Chwanda stumbled to the car.

I got closer to the car, and it got worse. And I was like oh my God what is going on? she recalled.

When she got to the car, Chwanda called her friend Calvin on the phone who was still inside the house. As soon as she pressed send, her body gave out. She couldnt talk and her hands curled up into fists.

I wasnt able to say 9-1-1. I just said ugh, ugh, ugh.

Calvin ran out of the house and immediately knew Chwanda was having a stroke, so he dialed 911.

According to doctors, Calvins quick thinking saved his friends life. EMS was there in minutes and knew exactly where to take Chwanda.

Once I saw the VCU sign I was at ease because I knew I was in the right place. I didnt want to go anywhere else, Chwanda said.

About two million brain cells could be lost every minute a stroke goes untreated, according to VCU Health stroke specialists. A stroke happens when something blocks the blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, rapidly decreasing the flow of oxygen to the brain. The more time that elapses, the worse the brain damage. After experiencing a stroke, an individual can have lasting brain damage, long-term disability or die.

Being prepared to react swiftly and appropriately, as Calvin did, can save a life. That is why it is important to recognize the symptoms.

I think if he hadnt called 911 when he did, I wouldnt be here, Chwanda recalled, her face changing quickly from a smile to a somber gaze.

Because Chwanda Johnsons close friend Calvin knew the signs of stroke, he immediately called 911. (Contributed photo)

When Henrico Division of Fire answered the call, medical personnel knew exactly what to do get Chwanda to the most equipped stroke care team in the area. They alerted VCU Medical Center. Thanks to this communication, emergency medicine physicians, nurses and a vascular neurologist were waiting at the door for Chwanda to arrive.

Our personnel are accustomed to the immediate availability of a multi-disciplinary team of specialists in emergency medicine, radiology, and neurology to care for these patients as well as the Direct to CT pathway that minimizes patient time to diagnosis and treatment, said Jeff Ferguson, M.D., medical director of Henrico Fire. Ferguson is also an emergency medicine physician at VCU Medical Center and associate professor in VCU School of Medicines Department of Emergency Medicine.

VCU Healths Comprehensive Stroke Center is one of only three centers of its kind in the region. Upon arrival, a patient suspected of having a stroke receives CT scans, labs, neurology assessments in one place. If surgery is needed, no time is wasted. They are waiting in a dedicated operating room that allows for the complete care of a stroke patient.

A quick CT scan at the hospital revealed a blood clot at the base of Chwandas brain. John Reavy-Cantwell, M.D., Chwandas neurosurgeon, removed that clot through a procedure called a mechanical thrombectomy less than an hour after Chwanda tripped in her driveway. The minimally invasive procedure is one of a few highly effective treatment options available when a patient is brought to the hospital soon after suffering from a stroke. If it takes longer for them to been seen by a medical team, the patient may be ineligible for the surgery.

Thats why its so critical for stroke patients to get medical treatment as soon as possible more options are available to prevent long-term health problems.

Recovery from a stroke is different for every person. Sometimes recovery can take weeks, months or even years. While some people fully recover, others live with lifelong disabilities such as problems with memory, speech or mobility. Rehabilitation can involve a variety of different therapists and support groups that help stroke survivors live with their new normal.

For Chwanda, it was a matter of hours before she was sitting up and laughing, back to her old self.

I could hear voices saying, move your feet, lift your leg. And anything they told me to do I did. And I heard them say Oh, call the doctor! Call the doctor! They were so surprised, said Chwanda. She describes it like she was performing a magic trick.

Reavey-Cantwell couldnt believe his own eyes when he went to check up on Chwanda several hours after removing the blood clot from her brain.

I thought that I had walked into the wrong patient's room because she was awake and talking and moving everything, he said. I was turning around to leave and then said, oh, no, this is her. Oh my gosh!

Her daughter and two granddaughters were by her side. Reavey-Cantwell believes Chwandas remarkable recovery is part miracle and part perfect execution of emergency stroke protocol.

She was probably as close to death as one can really come and then came back and made an incredible recovery, in my opinion, Reavey-Cantwell said.

Since Chwanda Johnson had a stroke, her 9-year-old granddaughter keeps stroke educational information with her so she can help if theres an emergency. (Contributed photo)

While the month of May is Stroke Awareness Month, VCU Healths Comprehensive Stroke Center is dedicated to raising awareness all year long.

The center works with the academic health system, VCU, and the Richmond community to educate residents, students, faculty, and medical professionals alike on the signs, symptoms, and latest methods for treating stroke patients. This outreach includes an annual conference as well as the city-wide initiative Stroke Smart Richmond, which educates people on stroke symptoms to reduce treatment delays.

The co-leaders of the project, VCU Health stroke program manager Stacie Stevens, Ph.D., D.N.P., R.N., and emergency room physician Ramana Feeser, M.D., are driving home one important message: When you spot a stroke, call 911.

The majority of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of stroke do not arrive by EMS, Feeser said. On top of this, most stroke patients arrive too late to be eligible for effective medication for a stroke. There is hope, if you come to us fast. We need everyone possible to spot a stroke and stop a stroke by calling 911.

You never know who will take it to heart.

Chwandas littlest advocate, her 9-year-old granddaughter, carries stroke information everywhere she goes.

She keeps it in her purse just in case she is here with me and needs to know what to do, said Chwanda with tears running down her face and a heart bursting with gratitude.

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Quick thinking leads to miraculous recovery of a stroke patient at VCU Health - VCU Health

Emergency Medicine

Visby Medical Sexual Health Test Results in More Appropriate Antibiotic Treatment and Shorter Emergency … – PR Newswire

Point-of-Care test significantly shortens time from ED arrival to test results, treatment and discharge significant improvements are seen in the use of antibiotics for the treatment of chlamydia and gonococcal infections in women

Nationwide increases in sexually transmitted diseases and antibiotic resistance create the need for a paradigm shift from traditional lab-based molecular testing

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Visby Medical and the Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine announced findings froma study evaluating a new approach to management of the three most common non-viral sexually transmitted infections (STI) in women. The study found that use of the Visby Medical Sexual Health Test, a point-of-care (POC) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, shortened time from specimen collection to STI result to only 47 minutes per patient, compared to an average of 25 hours for the standard of care (SOC) lab-processed molecular send-out tests. The Visby Medical test also resulted in significantly higher rates of appropriate treatment and lower rates of over-treatment with antibiotics for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections, compared to SOCi.Full data were presented on May 17 at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM).

The Visby Medical Sexual Health Test is the only "instrument-free" POC test available in the U.S. that provides PCR results in under 30 minutes. In March 2023, the Visby Medical test received 510(k) clearance and was granted a CLIA waiver from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its second-generation POC test.

An STI surveillance report published in 2024 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found more than 2.5 million cases in 2022ii. At the same time, the rate of inappropriate use of antibiotics to treat STIs has contributed to antimicrobial resistant strains of NG, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to release new guidance to improve diagnosis of STIs, including POC tests, with special emphasis on reducing antimicrobial resistanceiii.

"The rise in STIs has created a crisis for the nation's hospital emergency departments because the conventional send out tests do not provide results fast enough to inform treatment decisions during the patient visit. Rather than lose a potentially infected patient, clinicians must decide whether to treat before they have definitive results, which isn't ideal for anyone and contributes to antibiotic resistance," explained Gary Schoolnik, MD, an infectious disease expert, Chief Medical Officer at Visby Medical, and Professor of Medicine at Stanford University. "The dramatic improvements seen with the Visby Sexual Health test in testing time, ED visit duration, and in the use of antibiotics point the way toward a new best practice for STI testing. Implementation of a new rapid point-of-care testing standard of care would greatly benefit our hospitals, urgent care centers and, most importantly, women who seek treatment for this condition."

The study, Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Emergency Department: Evaluation of a Point-of-care Test, compared two approaches to testing female patients presenting to the Johns Hopkins Emergency Department in Baltimore, MD with potential STIs during two separate four-month study periods in 2022 and 2023. The first approach, SOC central laboratory testing with batched nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) (n=517 patients), and the second approach, the POC PCR Visby Medical Sexual Health Test (n=304 patients), were compared for rates of STIs identified, median time-to-result intervals between the two phases, and rates of appropriate treatment (including over and under treatment) based on CDC recommended guidelines.

For patients testing positive (4.8% for CT, 2.7% for NG, 8.0% for trichomoniasis [TV], and 1.9% with co-infections), proportions of appropriate treatment were significantly higher among the POC group for CT (92.7% vs 75.1% p<0.001) and NG (87.1% vs 74.3% p<0.001). Proportions of over-treatment were significantly lower among the POC group for CT-negative (7.0% vs 25.2% p<0.001) and NG-negative (13.0% vs 25.5% p<0.001) patients. No significant differences between the two testing groups were seen for TV. Median time intervals were significantly lower for the POC group, including time from specimen collection to STI results (47.0 minutes vs 25 hours p<0.001), time from ED arrival to STI results (5.7 hours vs 33.9 hours p<0.001), and time from ED arrival to discharge (9.1 hours vs 11.9 hours p<0.001)iv.

The study was conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins Universitywith support fromVisby Medical.

About Visby Medical Visby Medical is transforming the order of diagnosis and treatment for infectious diseases so clinicians can test, talk with, and treat the patient in a single visit. The Company developed a proprietary technology platform that is the world's first instrument-free, single-use PCR platform that fits in the palm of your hand and rapidly tests for serious infections.

The Visby Medical Sexual Health Test for women is the first step in a robust pipeline that is accelerating the delivery of fast and accurate, palm-sized PCR diagnostics to the point of care, and eventually for use at home. For more information, visitwww.visbymedical.com. Follow Visby Medical onLinkedIn.

Media Contact: Harry Wade [emailprotected] 917-482-9057

iKendall N. Maliszewski BS, Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Emergency Department: Evaluation of a Point-of-care Test. Paper presented at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, May 14-17 2024, Phoenix, AZ. iiCDC, CDC's 2022 STI Surveillance Report underscores that STIs must be a public health priority. Available here: https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2022/default.htm. iii WHO Announcement: WHO releases new guidance to improve testing and diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections, 24 July 2023. Available here: https://www.who.int/news/item/24-07-2023-who-releases-new-guidance-to-improve-testing-and-diagnosis-of-sexually-transmitted-infections. ivKendall, Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections.

SOURCE Visby Medical

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Visby Medical Sexual Health Test Results in More Appropriate Antibiotic Treatment and Shorter Emergency ... - PR Newswire

Emergency Medicine

CPR and AED save life of man at the gym with help from UAB physician – University of Alabama at Birmingham

Knowing the basics of CPR, even low-quality CPR from a bystander, can be a lifesaving action for a person in need.

Photography: Jennifer Alsabrook-TurnerFor Floyd Lawson, it started off as a normal weekend workout at his local YMCA branch. A veteran, husband, grandfather and gym regular, Lawson usually spends two hours or so at the gym doing cardio, stretching, lifting weights and then a visit to the steam room. To say he is active and in good health is an understatement.

However, on that Saturday in the spring of 2024, Lawson sat up after doing a round of crunches and felt the blood drain from his body.

I thought wow, let me compose myself, Lawson recalled. And that is the last thing I remember. That is until I saw my guardian angel, Dr. Andy.

On that same Saturday at the same YMCA by pure chance, Andrew Edwards, M.D., emergency medicine physician at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, was working out with his son. He saw a group of people gathered around a man on the floor and immediately ran over to help.

I realized what was happening a man had collapsed and was suffering from what appeared to be cardiac arrest so I jumped in to help a medical student and nurse who were already performing CPR on the man, Edwards said. We realized how dire the mans situation was and that it was imperative that early onset and effective CPR and defibrillation were needed.

After CPR was performed for nearly two minutes followed by advised shock via an AED, Lawsons pulse went out again and Edwards did another round of CPR and defibrillation. Once Lawson woke up after nearly 10 minutes, Edwards was immediately able to route EMS to UAB Hospital and give a heads up to the attending in UABs University Emergency Department that Lawson was on the way.

It felt like I was really put in the right place at the right time, Edwards said. Ive been doing this long enough that I went into automation mode; I can help restart someones heart this is my fastball. But outcomes can be variable if bystander CPR isnt administered quickly and effectively. Im really glad we were able to get him to UAB fast, too.

Edwards stresses that every person should know the basics of CPR, as even low-quality CPR from a bystander can be a lifesaving action for a person in need.

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating unexpectedly and results in no blood flow to the entire body. Like Lawson, theindividualwill beunresponsive, witheither no signsof breathingor very abnormalbreathing, and no detectable pulse.

Ryan Coute, D.O., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Emergency Medicine, outlines what a person should do if they find themselves in a position to administer CPR to a person in need:

Photography: Jennifer Alsabrook-TurnerIt is OK to not provide rescue breaths if you are uncomfortable doing so. Instead, focus on providing chestcompressions until 9-1-1personnel arrive. If providingrescue breaths, givetwo breaths after every 30 chest compressions and repeat until 9-1-1personnel arrive.

If available, use an automated external defibrillator, or AED, and follow its instructions as soon as possible.

CPR is highly effective and can double thelikelihoodof survival for those in cardiac arrest, Coute said. It is very important to begin CPR as soon as possible because survival will decrease byaround10 percent for every minute without CPR.If in the moment you are uncertain of what to do, call 9-1-1 and the medical dispatcher can provide youinstructions over the telephone to helpidentifycardiac arrest and begin the steps for CPR.

At the YMCA that day, Edwards and others performed hundreds of chest compressions. Their quick action undoubtedly saved Lawsons life, and bystanders watching and seeing how quick and simple CPR can be undoubtedly will save others, Lawson thinks.

When I got to UAB, it was clear that I had had a heart attack, Lawson said. I was perfectly healthy, and for this to happen at the gym of all places I was just in the right place at the right time. I truly feel like Dr. Andy is my guardian angel and that God put him there to save my life that day. If I had collapsed anywhere else, I may not be here today.

Since Lawsons heart attack at the YMCA that day, he and Edwards have struck up a friendship. They have much in common, including their faith, and even plan to meet up at the YMCA one day soon for a joint workout when Lawson is back to full health.

I never thought in my life that I would be saved by a complete stranger performing CPR, which is why its so important that everyone knows the basics of CPR I cannot stress that enough, Lawson said. I dont know what I can ever say to Dr. Andy for saving me. Thank you for not giving up on me.

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CPR and AED save life of man at the gym with help from UAB physician - University of Alabama at Birmingham