Norton Heart & Vascular Institute has joined a select group of North American centers in a landmark randomized clinical trial aimed at reducing one of cardiac surgery’s most common and consequential complications: postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF). About the trial Postoperative atrial fibrillation affects more than half of patients undergoing cardiac surgery, depending on individual risk…
Norton Heart & Vascular Institute continues to expand its role in advancing cardiovascular clinical research, joining a global clinical trial that potentially could redefine treatment for one of heart failure’s most challenging patient populations: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, or HFpEF. Why it matters HFpEF patients retain normal left ventricular pumping function (LVEF ≥50%)…
When Hannah McKinley walked into her local emergency department in July 2017 struggling to breathe, she was 26 years old. She lived a fairly carefree life, working in customer service and hanging out with friends on weekends. She received a diagnosis that would redefine her life. A CT scan revealed a mass in her throat….
When it comes to cardiac disease diagnosis in the primary care setting, choosing the right cardiac diagnostic test depends on several factors, including risk stratification, symptom frequency and clinical context. Here is a practical guide to navigating cardiology testing in primary care, adapted from a continuing medical education presentation by Mostafa O. El-Refai, M.D., interventional…
The patient An 81-year-old male presented to the hand surgery clinic reporting a sudden onset of weakness in his right hand’s ability to extend the middle, ring and small fingers. The index and thumb also were affected, to a lesser extent. There was no history of trauma; the symptoms began following a session of pushups…
A new radiation technology is helping make treatments faster, more comfortable and safer for patients at Norton Cancer Institute. ExacTrac Dynamic, developed by Brainlab, is a motion-tracking and patient positioning system that improves accuracy during radiation therapy, supporting stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) across a range of cancer types. How ExacTrac…
Norton Leatherman Spine has reached a major milestone in the evolution of spine care. Jeffrey L. Gum, M.D., spine surgeon with Norton Leatherman Spine, has become the first in the world to perform spine surgery using a next-generation robotic-assisted platform designed to deliver greater precision and accuracy than any previous technology. Dr. Gum played a…
A standardized primary care approach to knee and shoulder conditions — X-rays, a couple months of physical therapy followed by possible MRI and maybe referral to orthopedics — can prevent chronic disability as well as unnecessary imaging and referrals, according to Nyagon G. Duany, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist with Norton Orthopedic…
Reviewed by Bassel Alkhalil, M.D., Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Norton Heart & Vascular Institute has been selected as one of only two sites in Kentucky to participate in TEAM-HF, a pioneering clinical trial that could fundamentally change how advanced heart failure is treated. The study, sponsored by Abbott and led locally by principal investigator…
The patient Patient is a 61-year-old male with a past medical history significant for mitral valve prolapse (diagnosed at age 14). He presented to a Norton Immediate Care Center location with complaints of rash on his lower legs. He had been having shortness of breath for several months after a back injury left him with…