Discover the Latest Ways Johns Hopkins Leads in Heart and Vascular Care

For decades, patients and their families have relied on the Johns Hopkins Heart and Vascular Institute for cardiovascular care. John Hopkins’ rich tradition in advancing heart care—the groundbreaking “blue baby” operation, the invention of CPR, the development of balloon angioplasty, to name just a few examples—continues today with innovations in treatment and research.

The cardiology and heart surgery programs offer both routine and complex cardiovascular care. As we celebrate American Heart Month, find out how Johns Hopkins combines top physicians and surgeons, innovative research and quality patient care to customize treatment for each individual patient.

1. Identifying and Treating Deadly Genetic Conditions

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) affects roughly one in 500 individuals in the United States and is the most common cause of sudden death in young people. Unfortunately, this deadly genetic condition is often undiagnosed until a major cardiac event occurs. At the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center of Excellence, Dr. Theodore Abraham and other physicians diagnose patients, evaluate the risk to family members, and provide long-term care to those affected by HCM. Read more.

2. Reducing Hospital Stays and Recovery Times with Innovative Procedures

What was impossible before is now possible.
Dr. James Black is one of only a few dozen surgeons who are authorized to use a fenestrated stent graft to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms located above the renal arteries. Previously, such aneurysms required open surgery and several weeks of recovery. Through this new minimally-invasive procedure, patients are back on their feet within a number of days. Read more.

3. Keeping Heart Failure Patients Out of the Hospital

Dr. Steward Russell

After discharge, patients with a diagnosis of heart failure often find themselves back in the emergency department if their condition is not managed properly at home. At the Heart Failure Bridge Clinic, Dr. Stuart Russell helps patients manage their condition, lowering the possibility of readmission and further health complications. This unique model has successfully lowered readmission rates at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Read more.

4. Performing Heart Valve Surgery on High Risk Patients

Dr. Jon Resar and Dr. John Conte

For some patients, it may be too risky to replace their aortic heart valve using traditional open heart surgery methods. Dr. Jon Resar and Dr. John Conte are participating in clinical trials that use an approach referred to as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). This option is minimally invasive and patients have shorter hospital stays than those who recieve typical valve replacements. Read more.

5. Getting the Leads Out

Dr. Alan Cheng

Pacemaker and ICD leads—the wires that connect those electrical devices to a patient’s heart—must be removed when they become infected, malfunction or are recalled. This surgery, called lead extraction, is performed routinely by  Dr. Alan Cheng in the state-of-the-art operating room in the Zayed Tower at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Read more.