DOCTOR BY BENNY SEGALL AND TOR CONEY

JULIET SMITH-KLINE Juliet is currently suffering from Blue Baby Syndrome, which is no longer a serious illness among infants. Blue Bay Syndrome is when some of the blood cells in Juliet’s heart cannot receive oxygen giving the skin a blueish color. The procedure is simple thanks to the Johns Hopkins Hospital where the first successful blue baby procedure was conducted. We will make small incision, then we will connect the subclavian artery to the pulmonary artery. This will give the blood a second chance at oxygenation. I can promise with no major complications that Juliet will be fine.

EDGAR ROBINSON Edgar is at risk of a Thrombotic Ischemic Stroke, This probably comes from smoking, diet, stress, etc. A Thrombotic Ischemic Stroke is when plaque build up somewhere in the body and is potentially going to block blood flow to the brain. This could be catastrophic, causing brain damage and often death. We need to perform a stent operation. This a preemptive attack on your closing artery. We will insert a small tube with an inflatable balloon and wire mesh tube over the balloon, into a vein in the neck or thigh. When the wire tube is in the nearly blocked artery, we will inflate the balloon sliding the mesh tube off keeping the artery open to prevent further damage. This is an out-patient procedure and you may have to stay one night maximum.

MR. JAMES SHERMAN Doctor’s Notes: I’ve listened with a stethoscope and have diagnosed Mitral Valve Prolapse. Please explain what this is. Ask him his symptoms and then, based on what he tells you, tell him what we do next. Sherman: “ I have some chest pain and a cough occasionally, but those are the only symptoms so far” Description and Treatment: “Well Mr. Sherman, Mitral Valve prolapse is a minor issue which means that one of the valves in your heart doesn’t close properly and blood can splash back up. For now we the doctor will just prescribe you with medications such as aspirin and blood thinners, and if those seem to be ineffective and the issue becomes more severe, It may call for a corrective surgery on the heart. However I wouldn’t worry about that for now.

MRS. JANICE LIN Doctor’s Notes: “She’s got Aortic Stenosis and I think she’s a good candidate for TAVI. Please tell her about it.” Description and Treatment: “ Hello Mrs. Lin, you have what is know as Aortic Stenosis, which means your aortic valve is not functioning properly. Your aortic valve is the valve that lets blood pump from your heart to the rest of your body, and the issue is that it is narrowing and not allowing enough blood to pass though. This means that not all of the blood that should be going to your body is. There is a new operation which is much simpler and less invasive than an open heart surgery, know as TAVI. The surgery involves running a catheter into your cardiovascular system and into the aorta, where a balloon is filled up to place a proper valve in the place of the dysfunctional valve. It is much quicker and more effective than the standard open heart surgery.