A second chance at adventure after lung transplant

Transplant gives patient another six and a half healthy years Jenny Simpson was an adventurous spirit – the kind of person who would try anything once and met life’s challenges with equanimity and calm. Jenny loved her family and friends dearly and was very giving. A resident of Richmond, VA, she worked at Giant Food…

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Call early, call often: When is the right time to transfer a patient in cardiogenic shock?

Inova MD leads creation of ACC’s concise clinical guidance The first step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one. And in the case of cardiogenic shock, that is a difficult task. Cardiogenic shock is a heterogeneous, multifactorial syndrome. While the classic acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can result in cardiogenic shock, non-AMI etiologies of…

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A multimodal approach is key to curing CTEPH

Inova offers surgical and interventional procedures   Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is often misdiagnosed as pulmonary arterial hypertension, in part because a CTEPH diagnosis requires specialized testing including a ventilation/perfusion scan and a pulmonary angiogram, which are not widely available. Although a history of venous thromboembolic (VTE) events can predispose a patient to development…

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Six scenarios for consultation with an advanced heart failure specialist

Heart failure affects a large, diverse patient population, and many diseases fall under its broad umbrella. These factors, together with ever-evolving guidelines for medical therapies and newly approved treatments hitting the market, make it difficult to pinpoint specific clinical criteria that warrant consultation with an advanced heart failure and transplant team. “My rule of thumb…

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Collaboration and innovation equals a multidisciplinary dream team for complex aortic disease

The aorta and its major arteries carry blood to all the body’s essential organs. Because of this, an aortic aneurysm or dissection can be quite serious. Should surgical treatment be needed to avoid a life-threatening rupture, there are a wide variety of possible approaches available, with a broad range of open and endovascular options supported…

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Dedicated women’s heart care for a lifetime

The Inova Women’s Cardiovascular Health Program is focused on recognizing sex and gender differences in cardiovascular disease over a lifetime, particularly the impact of sex-specific risk enhancers that affect women at different stages of their lives. Our multidisciplinary team works to detect these risks early, address them effectively, and provide specialized treatment for heart conditions…

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Nearly 50 years of cardiac surgery innovation and excellence

In 1977, Inova established a dedicated program for patients who required surgical intervention for cardiovascular disease. Over the past five decades, we have remained committed to serving our community by providing the full spectrum of contemporary cardiovascular surgical care and developing well-equipped, talented surgical and critical care teams to ensure excellent outcomes. As a result, Inova…

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Inova providers volunteer at community events to address healthcare disparities in Fairfax County

Inova Schar Heart and Vascular addresses healthcare disparities in Fairfax County by educating underserved populations about important health information in line with the county’s community health improvement plan. Inova team members, including nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, cardiac rehabilitation specialists and administrative staff, volunteer their weekends to provide free healthcare services and screenings at community…

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What we do matters – a story of the generational impact of caring for patients

Cleveland Francis, MD, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisor at Inova Schar Heart and Vascular. Growing up in small-town West Virginia, Jessica Flanagan heard stories about a wonderful doctor. During the late 1970s, an Alexandria cardiologist had treated her late mother, Susan Flanagan, before she passed away from a congenital heart condition. Jessica was only 3…

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