The patient An active 60-year-old male with atrial fibrillation (A-fib) had been seen by Norton Heart & Vascular Institute cardiothoracic surgeon Steven M. Peterson, M.D., and after endocardial ablation was still symptomatic. His condition limited his ability to exercise and engage in his role as a soccer referee and long-distance runner. The challenge Despite five…
Hypertension management continues to evolve as new evidence reshapes diagnostic thresholds, treatment goals and therapeutic options. Now available as an on-demand continuing medical education presentation, “Hypertension 2025: What Is New – Updates in Diagnosis, Management and Renal Denervation,” given by Matthew J. Sousa, M.D., interventional cardiologist with Norton Heart & Vascular Institute, reviews key updates…
The patient A 33-year-old male with heroin use and an abscess to left arm: Workup revealed methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia with tricuspid endocarditis and pulmonary septic emboli with cavitations and central nervous system septic emboli. This condition is common with intravenous drug use and increasing in prevalence. His course was complicated by COVID-19. The challenge…
Chest pain is one of the most common presenting complaints in primary care, yet determining which patients need specialist referral versus reassurance remains challenging. Recent guidelines have fundamentally changed the approach to these patients, and understanding the current evidence can help primary care physicians make more informed decisions about testing and referral. The initial step…
Arrhythmias represent one of the most significant challenges in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD), constituting the leading cause of morbidity, mortality and hospitalization in this population. Understanding the appropriate use of anti-arrhythmia medications is critical for clinicians managing these complex patients. Shelby Mangeot, DNP, APRN, presented “Anti-arrhythmia Medications: A Necessary Evil” during a continuing…
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has recognized six Norton Healthcare hospitals for demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain. Norton Healthcare has the most facilities across Louisville and Southern Indiana with the ability treat a life-threatening heart attack. “This accreditation is based on national standards ensuring patients receive specific treatment in…
Norton Heart & Vascular Institute specialists made history on Tuesday, Dec. 9, as they performed a first-of-its-kind transcatheter tricuspid heart valve replacement, offering new hope for patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation. This is the first use of the EVOQUE tricuspid valve replacement system in Kentucky. It’s a minimally invasive procedure designed for patients with debilitating…
As more children with congenital heart disease survive into adulthood, primary care physicians are managing a growing population of adults with these conditions. Chief among the new challenges presented by these patients is an elevated risk of sudden cardiac death. Sudden cardiac death accounts for about 25% of all mortality in patients with congenital heart…
The patient A 54-year-old man with chronic severe pulmonic regurgitation due to history of valvar pulmonary stenosis, the patient had a Brock procedure at age 8. Right heart failure symptoms included dyspnea, early satiety, ascites and peripheral edema, qualifying as New York Heart Association Class III heart failure. A cardiac MRI showed a severely dilated…
When Norton Children’s Neuroscience Institute , affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, first introduced Surgical Theater technology, it revolutionized how neurosurgeons approach complex brain procedures. Now, this same leading-edge, 3D visualization technology is making waves in cardiac care, opening new possibilities for treating the most challenging congenital heart conditions. The foundation of innovation: Neuroscience…
The patient A 33-year-old female presented with progressive exertional intolerance, peripheral edema, nausea and vomiting. Cardiac history included tricuspid atresia with normally related great vessels with severe pulmonic stenosis (single ventricle heart disease). She underwent staged surgical palliations with a left modified Blalock-Taussig shunt procedure in infancy followed by bilateral, bidirectional Glenn procedure, and finally…
The patient A 41-year-old pregnant patient at 38 weeks’ gestation was admitted for elective cesarean section. Her medical history included three pregnancies, two live births, two prior cesarean sections, anterior placenta with polyhydramnios (amniotic fluid index 35), pituitary macroadenoma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and headaches. Echocardiogram in 2019 demonstrated an ejection fraction (EF) of 56%….