- Men's Health, Women's Health, Heart Care, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe traditional approach to angioplasty, a medical procedure in which cardiologists clear blockages in coronary arteries, involves inserting a catheter into the patient’s femoral artery, a very large blood vessel buried at the groin deep in a patient’s leg. Now cardiologists at AAMC have another route to restore blood flow to the heart muscle—through the wrist. It’s called radial artery angioplasty and is especially beneficial to patients like Jim Smith, 68, of Centreville, MD. He was rushed to the hospital by ambulance after suffering a heart attack. Doctors on the Eastern Shore had sent him across the Bay Bridge to AAMC where nurses, technicians and cardiologists were waiting for him in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab. The Cath Lab team is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to save the lives of heart attack patients. For Jim who had already had a deep vein thrombosis removed from his leg, catheterization through the femoral artery posed a slightly higher risk of complications. Fortunately, interventional cardiologist Scott Katzen, MD, was able to offer a newer, safer route to Jim’s heart—catheterization at the wrist, the radial artery. “The radial artery approach has a lower risk of bleeding complications,” said Dr. Katzen who has performed hundreds of radial artery catheterizations. “It’s more comfortable for the patients, and they literally can be in bed sitting up eating their lunch a half hour after the procedure.” After a femoral artery catheterization, patients must lay flat for several hours. By inserting the catheter, a long and narrow tube, into the radial artery and threading it up to a patient’s heart, Dr. Katzen cleared the blockage. The catheter has a tiny balloon inside which is deployed to open the clot. In some cases, cardiologists also may insert and leave a stent to keep an artery open. A stent is a small narrow metal mesh tube-like device. Since September 2012, Dr. Katzen has been performing radial artery catheterizations regularly at AAMC, and patients like Jim have been impressed with how easy it was to go through. “It was amazing. There was no pain involved at all,” said Jim. “It was just like having blood drawn except that instead of drawing blood they put a catheter in there.” The day after his heart attack, Jim was back at home. “The procedure was just so smooth and easy,” he said, “There were no after effects or any recovery time, it was really great.”
- Men's Health, Orthopedics, Women's Health, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogChristopher Bell first injured his knee playing tennis nine years ago. Seven years and two surgeries later, he was still in pain, and his options were narrowing. Fortunately, a new study at the AAMC Research Institute brought state-of-the art treatment to the Annapolis resident that no one else in the region could offer him. After his injury, one of the bones in Christopher’s knee had developed what doctors called small potholes. They caused enough pain that he could no longer play tennis. Microfracture surgery, which involves drilling into the pot holes to encourage scar tissue growth provided nearly two years of relief. But when the pain returned, his only other option was a partial knee replacement. “I went to three other doctors,” Christopher said, “including the orthopedic doctor for the Baltimore Ravens, and it was either quit playing tennis or have a partial knee replacement.” That’s when Thomas Harries, M.D., at Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center offered him another option. Through the AAMC Research Institute, Dr. Harries was participating in a national study of a new procedure called HemiCap joint resurfacing. It’s an outpatient procedure that has been used in Europe for four years, and is now being evaluated for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in the U.S. “A hemi cap is a small metal implant that restores the joint surface and keeps the joint from deteriorating further,” said Dr. Harries. “It’s like filling a pothole in the road. If you don’t fill it, it’s just going to get worse and worse.” The metal implants provide a permanent solution to this kind of chronic knee pain and preserve the healthy portion of the knee. Dr. Harries said 30 or 40 other institutions participated in the study, and after two years of patient follow up, the procedure is in review by the FDA. “It’s not available to the general public yet,” Dr. Harries said. “For me, being involved in the research end means an opportunity to gain more knowledge of these cutting edge procedures and the different products out there. It benefits your patients to have a physician who is keeping up with the modern technology and involved in developing it.” Christopher is walking proof of those benefits. His knee feels great, and he plays tennis every Thursday night. “It was absolutely surprising that I was able to be part of the study and have this cutting edge procedure at Anne Arundel Medical Center right here in Annapolis.”
- Community, Giving, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogFour years ago, local photographer and Davidsonville resident Linda McCarthy began applying her talents to benefit her community. As a 20-year veteran photographer specializing in weddings and family portraits, Linda often found herself taking great photos of babies, and thought they would make a wonderful local calendar. But she wanted this to be more than a calendar – she wanted this project to have a positive impact on her community. Thus the Angel Calendar was born. Partnering with the AAMC Labor and Delivery Unit and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Linda met dozens of families that had beautiful babies, some of whom had survived and thrived thanks specifically to the care and dedication of the NICU team. “As I would take photos of these adorable babies, I would hear the most wonderful stories about the family’s experience at AAMC’s NICU and their sincere appreciation of the care their babies had received,” explains Linda. “It gave me such joy to know I was creating a way for these families to say thank you to people who had played such an important role in their lives.” Since 2009, Linda’s Angel Calendar has raised more than $70,000 to support care for NICU babies at AAMC. “The Angel Calendars have brought a special magic to our NICU with a miracle worker leading the charge,” praises NICU Clinical Director Carol Lacher. “Thanks to the efforts and generosity of Linda and Visual Concepts Photography, we purchased much needed special emergency carts, chairs for family members to sit in while staying in the room with their baby, and special the room lighting for medical treatments.” “I have always believed in giving back to the community,” explains Linda. “What can be better than knowing you are helping someone who truly needs it!” To learn more about the Angel Calendar project, go to Visual Concepts.
- Community, Giving, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen founding members of the Building Traditions Society (BTS) approached Dr. Dan and Sara Sandel about joining the BTS Board, the young physician and his wife welcomed the invitation. With perfect timing, this request came just as Dan and Sara were discussing a desire to become more involved in the community. “Two of our three children were born at AAMC. Our second child was premature and required a 6-week stay in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit),” explains Sara Sandel. “We had a wonderful experience in the NICU and were amazed that such a state of the art facility was this close to home. We are eternally grateful for the care we received there.” Dan and Sara, like 45 other members of BTS, wanted to give back to the hospital that is so vital to their family and friends. They also are excited to work with and get to know a dynamic group of young professionals with similar goals. Dan is a member of the AAMC Medical Staff and a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon with The Sandel Center of Plastic Surgery in Annapolis. “I am proud finally to be at a point in my career where I can start to give back to my community,” says Dan. “I am equally proud of the work that BTS has done over this first year to raise money for the AAMC pediatrics program. We are just beginning to really make an impact together.” The Building Traditions Society is a membership of couples and individuals under 45 years of age who make a contribution of $1,000 a year to AAMC. For more information please contact Lisa Michelsen at 443-481-4735 or [email protected].
- Cancer Care, Women's Health, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogKaren Jones remembers the fear and frustration she felt after discovering the lump in her breast. The medical care and emotional support she received at the Breast Center at the DeCesaris Cancer Institute helped both her and her husband, Doug, through the difficult time. “The people at the hospital were so reassuring,” says Doug who accompanied her to all of her appointments. “You felt so much more comfortable after you talked to them.” Now that she is cancer free, Karen has become a mentor, sharing her experience with other patients at the Breast Center. “We have the most amazing facility here in Annapolis,” she says. “I’m always the first one to say ‘You don’t need to leave this city or state to find excellent medical care.’” Today, Karen has a much greater appreciation for life’s smallest pleasures; the breeze on her skin, the sound of birds in the trees and the change of seasons. She and Doug are closer than they’ve ever been, and they cherish more moments together. “I’m just glad I have her,” he says. Karen is proud to be able to say she is a cancer survivor, and she uses her experience to help others through their journey. “I feel better than I felt before my diagnosis, and I think it’s because I’m taking better care of myself.”
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