Florida Hospital Best in Care - Winter 2012 - (Page 5)

in November 2008, after viewing her most recent echocardiogram, Dr. Okereke contacted Kevin Accola, MD, to discuss mitral valve repair. He reassured Kimberly that Dr. Accola was known for minimally invasive open heart surgery and mitral valve repair. After a consultation, Dr. Accola recommended open heart surgery to replace her mitral valve. “To an opera singer, open heart surgery is terrifying. Our bodies are our instruments,” she says. To allay her fears, Dr. Accola chose to repair, rather than replace, her mitral valve, which would have ended her career and the pursuit of her passion. (Because of the procedure, her voice would have changed, making it uncertain whether she would be able to sing as well.) In June 2009, she underwent open heart surgery, was released ﬁve days later and experienced a quick recovery. Two months after surgery, Kimberly resumed teaching and private voice lessons. Six months after surgery, she performed the soprano solo of Handel’s Messiah at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre with the Messiah Choral Society. One year later, she and her husband sang the soprano and bass solo parts of the Messiah with the Orlando Philharmonic, both in the Shakespeare Theatre and in Celebration. “The entire experience was a huge blessing,” she says. “Dr. Accola was fantastic during surgery and afterward.” FEB A FREE ASSESSMENT OF YOUR HEART More than 5 million Americans suﬀer from heart valve disease, which can cause heart damage without symptoms. Join Dr. Accola at 5:30 pm, February 23, at Florida Hospital Orlando, for a FREE seminar where he will explain heart murmurs, heart valve disease and options for repair and replacement. Come early and take part in a complimentary heart risk assessment and blood pressure screening. Reserve your seat by calling (407) 303-BEST (2378) today. Time Saved Florida Hospital Altamonte has expanded cardiology services and now joins Florida Hospital Orlando in oﬀering percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Also referred to as balloon Vikas Verma, MD, angioplasty, PCI is a Cardiology non-surgical procedure that relieves chest pain caused from narrowing and obstruction of arteries to the muscle of the heart. Because Florida Hospital Altamonte is a designated “PCI” hospital, physicians now can perform this advanced treatment for people having STEMI (ST segment elevation myocardial infarction) heart attacks. Because the state requires emergency medical staﬀ to transport heart attack Equals Heart Saved patients to PCI-designated hospitals, previously patients had to be stabilized at a local health care facility and then transported to Florida Hospital Orlando, the closest PCI hospital. Each year, more than 200,000 people have heart attacks caused by blockages in crucial arteries supplying the heart with blood. e PCI procedure is performed with a small balloon catheter inserted into an artery in the groin or arm, and advanced to the narrowing in the coronary artery. e balloon is then inﬂated to enlarge the narrowing in the artery. If needed, a stent may be placed to hold the artery open. is allows more blood and oxygen to reach the heart muscle. Studies show that reopening clogged arteries by inﬂating a tiny balloon at the site of the blockage is the best way to treat a severe heart attack. e procedure can reduce a patient’s risk of dying by 40 percent, but only if it is done within 90 minutes of the patient’s arrival at the hospital, the so-called “door-toballoon time.” “When a patent is admitted in the midst of a heart attack, if we can respond immediately to relieve the blockage and preserve precious heart muscle, our timely response may be able to head oﬀ open-heart surgery or death,” says Vikas Verma, MD, cardiology section chair at Florida Hospital Altamonte. Other Florida Hospital campuses may oﬀer this program in the future. HEALTHY 00tips WHY MEDITATE Studies reveal that frequent meditation equals more energy and less anxiety. Today, take time to meditate on things that bring you joy. FloridaHospital.com 5 http://www.FloridaHospital.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Florida Hospital Best in Care - Winter 2012

Florida Hospital Best in Care - Winter 2012