Heart & Vascular

Meet Melissa Lee Perrotta, M.D., Norton Children’s new adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) assistant medical director

By Kim Huston From working in a genetics lab to teaching yoga, Melissa Lee Perrotta, M.D., has found a way to blend all of her passions into one career. Her drive to understand and solve complex medical issues and her interest in integrative healing have led her to caring for patients with adult congenital heart…

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Heart & Vascular

Mostafa El-Refai, M.D., thrives on the quick results of opening blocked arteries

For Mostafa El-Refai, M.D., interventional cardiology is the best of both worlds. He gets to develop long-term relationships with patients and their families. He also gets to perform emergency stenting procedures to open blocked coronary arteries after heart attacks. “Interventional cardiology gets my blood rushing a little bit because we get to treat patients with…

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Heart & Vascular

Sofya Kuznetsov, M.D., joins Norton Heart & Vascular Institute

Sofya Kuznetsov, M.D., who is board certified and fellowship trained in clinical cardiac electrophysiology and cardiovascular disease, has joined Norton Heart & Vascular Institute. Dr. Kuznetsov completed her clinical cardiac electrophysiology fellowship at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in Ohio, where she was chief fellow. She completed her cardiovascular fellowship at University Hospitals Case Medical…

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Heart & Vascular

Heart failure monitoring technology provides early warning of worsening condition

By Lynne Choate Living with advanced heart failure can be every bit as scary as it sounds. For patients, it means following a strict regimen that includes medication and regularly monitoring for the slightest signs that the condition is getting worse. Heart failure patients need to check their weight daily and report even slight changes…

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Heart & Vascular

Easier referrals to the specialists at the new Atrial Fibrillation Clinic

The new Atrial Fibrillation Clinic at Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Heart Rhythm Center is accepting referrals for newly diagnosed patients, those with paroxysmal or persistent symptomatic atrial fibrillation (A-fib) and patients who are having difficulty with their current treatment. The clinic is designed for evaluation, diagnosis and advanced treatment for A-fib. Kent E. Morris,…

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Heart & Vascular

Norton Healthcare hospitals recognized with three awards for exceeding patient care standards in heart attack cases

Norton Healthcare hospitals were recognized today during a presentation by the American Heart Association with Mission: Lifeline Gold Plus and Gold awards for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks. The American Heart Association also presented Norton Healthcare with the Mission Lifeline: Regional Trailblazer Award. The award recognized Norton Healthcare for serving as…

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Heart & Vascular

Health care providers can help improve outcomes for African Americans at higher risk for heart disease and heart failure

Heart disease kills more Americans than any other disease, and according to the American Heart Association, African Americans may face a higher risk for heart disease compared with other groups. Kelly C. McCants, M.D., cardiologist and medical director of Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure Program, said uncontrolled high blood pressure is the…

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Heart & Vascular, Pediatric Services

Ebstein anomaly discovered in pregnancy treated with interdisciplinary care

Audrey Sims’ first clue that her twins’ birth would be complicated came at 14 weeks of pregnancy, when a routine ultrasound found that one of her sons, Aiden, had a cystic hygroma, a fluid collection on the neck. Audrey’s OB/GYN at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison, Indiana, referred Audrey and her husband, Andrew, to Norton…

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Heart & Vascular

Could your patient benefit from VAD/heart transplant evaluation?

Follow these advanced heart failure signs that indicate your patient may benefit from VAD/heart transplant evaluation LVEF <40% Inability to walk one block without shortness of breath Intolerance of beta blockers Intolerance of ACEi/ARBs Inotrope dependence Progressive renal insufficiency Cardiac index <2.2 l/min BNP or NT-proBNP > 5x normal (BNP > 1000) One heart-failure-related hospitalization…

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Heart & Vascular

Cardiologist makes critical diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy after new mom has her baby

After 10 years of trying for a second child, Amanda Slayton and her husband, Scott, were jubilant when they conceived their son Seth. Born in February 2018, he is every parent’s prayer — happy, healthy and undemanding. In ways they couldn’t have predicted, their baby’s good nature has been a godsend to the Slaytons. Less…

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Heart & Vascular

Left atrial appendage closure: A life-changing procedure for patients with nonvalvular A-fib

Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, currently affecting over 5 million people in the U.S. Twenty percent of all strokes occur in patients with A-fib, and A-fib-related strokes are more frequently fatal and disabling. The most common treatment to reduce stroke risk in patients with A-fib is a blood-thinning medication such as…

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Heart & Vascular

New Advanced Heart Failure Program location open on Norton Brownsboro campus

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure Program has opened a second location at 4915 Norton Healthcare Blvd. on the Norton Brownsboro Hospital campus. Providers will see referred patients with a heart failure diagnosis at the new location Monday through Thursday. The new clinic will provide more convenient access in the area for an…

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