Children with a high cholesterol panel or three consecutive elevated blood pressure readings should be referred to a cardiologist for preventive cardiology, and there is a list of additional criteria that primary care providers can consult before making a referral. “A child can have one or multiple risk factors, and we can intervene before the…
Compared with usual care, implantable cardiac monitors (ICM) detected significantly more atrial fibrillation (AF) events in stroke patients who likely would not have been monitored long term for AF otherwise, according to a study published recently in JAMA. The trial, Stroke of Known Cause and Underlying Atrial Fibrillation, STROKE-AF trial for short, looked at patients…
When a pediatric heart transplant patient is well into postoperative recovery, their home pediatrician becomes a closer member of the transplant team with Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. Months after the transplant — and after the child has returned home, whether in Louisville or hours away in Kentucky or…
This has been a momentous year for Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. We’re completing our first full year officially integrated with the former UofL Pediatrics – Cardiology practice, which doubled the size of our team. We now can provide all aspects of pediatric cardiology care in-house, including heart failure…
Preventive cardiologist Amy E. DiPietro, M.D., is joining Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, as part of an expanded effort to arrest and prevent acquired heart disease in children. Dr. DiPietro, who also specializes in caring for children with congenital heart defects, heart failure and heart transplants, will work alongside…
Visiting Louisville on a business trip, Rob Priest thought he might have come down with a terrible case of food poisoning. The pain was so bad that he called 911 from his hotel. When Rob arrived by ambulance at Norton Audubon Hospital, he learned the truth was far worse than a tainted meal. Rob had…
When someone 35 or younger complains of symptoms concerning for heart disease, such as palpitations, shortness of breath or chest pains, we see them at the new Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Young Adult Cardiology Clinic, located on the campus of Norton Brownsboro Hospital. More and more young people come to us anxious about their…
Using scheduled, intentional touch points for follow-up care, Norton Heart & Vascular Institute is aiming to drive down the readmission rate for heart failure patients and those who’ve had open heart surgery. Mindful that heart failure readmissions typically happen in the first two weeks after discharge, all three touch points take place in that time…
Pediatric cardiomyopathy is progressive and may be asymptomatic up to sudden death, making family history an important tool in deciding when to refer patients, according to a cardiologist at Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. Anyone who has a first-degree relative who was diagnosed with a cardiomyopathy or who had…
Pediatric cardiologist Delwyn E. McOmber, M.D., has joined Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, as part of the Pediatric HeartCare Partners integration with Norton Children’s. In addition to practicing pediatric cardiology, Dr. McOmber also will serve as medical director of the Norton Children’s Medical Group pediatric exercise lab and University…
The patient Newborn with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) with a dysplastic pulmonary valve and progressive pulmonary valve stenosis The challenge The dysplastic pulmonary valve makes it unsuitable to proceed with the typical first stage of single ventricle palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) — the Norwood procedure, which would transition the pulmonary valve…
For patients with atrial fibrillation (A-fib) not caused by a heart valve issue, with at least moderate risk of stroke and issues taking long-term blood thinners, the Watchman device offers an alternative. The left atrial appendage (LAA) closure device significantly lowers stroke risk and can reduce or eliminate the need for long-term anticoagulation. Patients with…