New Minimally Invasive Heart Procedure in Paducah, KY

New Minimally Invasive Heart Procedure Healthtalk Transcript:

Austin Ward, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Baptist Health Paducah
Christina Burnham, Metropolis, Illinois

Austin Ward, MD:
Ms. Burnham came to me with symptoms of being tired and having some funny feelings in her chest whenever she was on the treadmill. With her symptoms, she underwent a heart cath. Ms. Burnham had a blockage in the main artery going down the front of her heart. Given that this was the only major blockage that needed treatment, with her young age, I felt like she would do much better with bypass surgery in the long term.

Christina Burnham:
I had a fear of having my chest cut open because heart disease runs in my family, and I have experienced it with my dad, my brother and my sister. I was looking at a new procedure — minimally invasive with the da Vinci robot.

Austin Ward, MD:
In select patients, we can go between the ribs using the robot to harvest the artery that supplies blood and oxygen to the chest wall, and then use that to do the bypass through a small incision under the left breast.

Christina Burnham:
I was very surprised that we have the technology and expertise here in Paducah. Not many hospitals can offer that type of service. I'm very appreciative. After getting to know Dr. Ward, he performed the procedure, and I was so happy because it was true — the procedure was quick. I was on my feet. He gave me a sense and a feeling that I don't think I could have had outside the Paducah area.