Mountain View, CA - August 16, 2011 - Cardiologists at El Camino Hospital's Heart and Vascular Institute are taking advantage of advancements in medical technology to offer patients more options for treating heart disease, and to more precisely determine whether to intervene. In a recent overview and progress report presented to the hospital’s Board of Directors, the Institute’s Medical Director Dominick Curatola, MD, said the Institute is using such advanced technology as Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) and is leveraging data from landmark studies like the FAME (Fractional flow reserve (FFR) vs. Angiography in Multivessel Evaluation) and PROSPECT (Providing Regional Observations to Study Predictors of Events in the Coronary Tree) studies to drive changes in clinical practice that will improve patient outcomes, drive preventative therapy, and reduce costs by avoiding unnecessary procedures.
"El Camino Hospital is committed to continuing provision of the highest quality care to our patients, which means continuously evaluating and integrating, as appropriate, the latest technologies that will advance care, and to training and mentoring the next generation of physicians," stated Dr. Curatola. "We have a strong legacy in these areas, boasting physicians at this hospital who are not only invited to participate in top-tier clinical trials of revolutionary technologies and therapies, but who have themselves created new products and techniques that have advanced the field. Furthermore, our fellowship program is widely regarded as one of the best in California, providing young physicians the opportunity to develop expertise under the guidance of our accomplished senior staff."
The HVI has recently demonstrated notable success with its chest pain center, fellowship program, and key advancements in minimally invasive treatments for valve disease, and has experienced significant growth in its key service areas including cardiac surgery, electrophysiology, and peripheral vascular disease.
"We can say with full confidence that the Heart and Vascular Institute has also become an area leader in minimally invasive heart valve intervention, having evaluated multiple technologies to replace and repair three of four types of heart valves without open-heart surgery, including the mitral, aortic and pulmonary valves," continued Dr. Curatola.
Recent HVI Highlights and Accomplishments
- Instituted IVUS to analyze the different size, length and types of atherosclerotic plaque, and FFR to help cardiologists decide whether performing a stent procedure on a patient is the best option;
- Implemented a cutting-edge cardiovascular information system (CVIS) infrastructure that brings patient information to the point of care, allowing more precise access to data and outcomes;
- Assisted development of the MitraClip for less-invasive mitral valve repair therapy, and currently remains one of the only centers in Northern California where it is offered. The MitraClip may enable patients to avoid surgical complications and longer recovery times associated with open-heart surgery;
- One of 40 U.S. cardiovascular centers to participate in the Medtronic CoreValve trial, evaluating this non-surgical, less-invasive procedure as a treatment alternative to open-heart surgery for patients with severe aortic stenosis;
- Furthered advances in Hybrid procedures, which are typically minimally-invasive and require cross-collaboration between surgeons and interventionists. This includes implementation of the Hybrid Maze procedure, a less invasive surgery to treat complex atrial fibrillation that combines the expertise of cardiac surgeons and electrophysiologists;
- Recognized as having one of the broadest and deepest peripheral vascular disease programs in Northern California, with approximately 500 procedures conducted each year;
- Preparing to open a comprehensive wound care center in the first quarter of 2012 that will provide a full continuum of care for vascular disease and early intervention for preventative care.