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Brigham and Women's Hospital

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Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a top Harvard Medical School teaching hospital, is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Hospitals. Our innovations in virtually every area of clinical care, along with our history of breakthrough discoveries and medical firsts, have improved the health of people around the world.

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  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What are the risks of heart valve repair surgery?
    Heart valve repair or replacement surgery is a treatment option for valvular heart disease. When heart valves become damaged or diseased, they may not function properly.

    Possible risks associated with heart valve repair or replacement surgery include, but are not limited to, the following:...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    Why would I need a Holter monitor test?
    The Holter monitor is a type of electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) used to monitor the ECG tracing continuously for a period of 24 hours or longer. A standard or "resting" ECG is one of the simplest and fastest procedures used to evaluate the heart.

    When symptoms such as dizziness, fainting,...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What is an event monitor?
    Cardiac event monitoring is very similar to Holter monitoring, and is often ordered for the same reasons. (The Holter monitor is a type of electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) used to monitor the ECG tracing continuously for a period of 24 hours or longer. A standard or "resting" ECG is one of...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What are the symptoms of a damaged heart valve?
    The heart is a pump made of muscle tissue. The heart has four pumping chambers: two upper chambers, called atria, and two lower chambers, called ventricles. In order to keep the blood flowing forward during its journey through the heart, there are valves between each of the heart's pumping...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    How is a heart valve repaired with surgery?
    Heart valve repair or replacement surgery is a treatment option for valvular heart disease. When heart valves become damaged or diseased, they may not function properly. The diseased valve may be repaired using a ring to support a person's own valve, or the entire valve may be removed and...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What are the different valves in the heart?
    The heart is a pump made of muscle tissue. The heart has four pumping chambers: two upper chambers, called atria, and two lower chambers, called ventricles. In order to keep the blood flowing forward during its journey through the heart, there are valves between each of the heart's pumping...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What happens after carotid angioplasty with stenting (CAS) surgery?
    After a carotid artery angioplasty with stenting (CAS) procedure for carotid artery disease, you will be taken to the recovery room for observation. Once your blood pressure, pulse, and breathing are stable and you are alert, you may be taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) or your hospital...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What should I do after carotid angioplasty with stenting (CAS) surgery?
    Once you are home after carotid artery angioplasty with stenting (CAS) surgery for carotid artery disease, you should monitor the injection site for bleeding. A small bruise is normal, as is an occasional drop of blood at the site. If the groin or arm was used, you should monitor the leg...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What is heart valve repair?
    Heart valve repair or replacement surgery is a treatment option for valvular heart disease. When heart valves become damaged or diseased, they may not function properly. Traditionally, repair or replacement of heart valves has involved open-heart surgery, which means that the chest is opened...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What happens during carotid angioplasty with stenting (CAS) surgery?
    A carotid angioplasty with stenting (CAS) procedure for carotid artery disease follows this process:
    1. An anesthesiologist will continuously monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and blood oxygen level during the surgery. The groin area (or arm) will be cleaned with antiseptic
    ...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What should I do after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) surgery?
    Once you are home after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) surgery for carotid artery disease, it is important to keep the incision area clean and dry. Your physician will give you specific bathing instructions. If stitches are used, they will be removed during a follow-up office visit. If adhesive...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What happens after carotid endarterectomy surgery?
    After a carotid endarterectomy (CEA) procedure for carotid artery disease, you will be taken to the recovery room for observation. Once your blood pressure, pulse, and breathing are stable and you are alert, you may be taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) or your hospital room. At the a...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What are the risks of carotid artery stenting?
    Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery angioplasty with stenting (CAS) are procedures performed to treat carotid artery disease in certain circumstances.

    As with any surgical procedure, complications of surgeries for carotid artery disease can occur. Some possible complications...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What happens before carotid artery surgery?
    Before a carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery angioplasty with stenting (CAS) procedure for carotid artery disease:
    • Your physician will explain the procedure to you and offer you the opportunity to ask any questions that you might have about the procedure.
    • You will be asked to
    ...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What can interfere with a carotid artery duplex scan?
    Certain factors or conditions may interfere with the results of a carotid artery duplex scan, a type of vascular ultrasound study done to assess the blood flow of the arteries that supply blood from the heart through the neck to the brain. These include, but are not limited to, the following:...  Full Post