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Taking a Look at Heart Disease Among Women

This report features THI Dr. Stephanie A. Coulter, Director of the Center for Women's Heart & Vascular Health. View on MyFoxHOUSTON.com

'Bionic Bride' loses her title, gains new lease on life
 
The Texas A&M student first made headlines when doctors at the Texas Heart Institute installed a Left Ventricular Assist Device. Now she is a heart transplant recipient. See the video report (February 11, 2011) from KHOU.COM on Ally Smith Babineaux.
Update October 12, 2011—Ally today. Read more . . .

  
Effective treatments for heart failure include
cardiac implantable electronic devices

Heart failure contributes to hundreds of thousands of deaths in the U.S. each year, but there are many ways to treat this serious condition. In this Fox 26 interview, Dr. Mehdi Razavi, director of electrophysiology clinical research at Texas Heart Institute, describes treatments using cardiac implantable electronic devices such as pacemakers and ways to overcome risks of infection. View the video (3.14 min.). (February 2011)

  
 
Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital heart transplant recipient Esmeralda Miranda recently experienced a very special moment in her family's life and agreed to share it with us in this video for the season.

Bionic bride's wedding was emotional 'rebirth'  

Nearly a year to the day from when THI patient Ally Smith Babineaux almost passed away, she said "I do" in front of her family and friends, an event her mother calls a "rebirth." Ally discusses beating the odds and her new life as a wife with TODAY's Matt Lauer. View video on Today website.

A world leader in the development of heart assist devices

O. H. "Bud" Frazier, MD, discusses how he became a pioneer in the development of heart assist devices at the Texas Heart Institute and why they play an important role in the treatment of heart failure. (Video 5:00 min.)

THI and Houston ISD announce medical research program

 
Weight-loss surgery prevents diabetes, reverses heart disease?

In this HealthCheck special report from ABC13, Dr. Reynolds Delgado, THI cardiologist, and Dr. Heinrich Taegtmeyer, THI professional staff, discuss the implications of weight-loss surgery and its potential for reversing heart disease. Read the report at ABCLocal.com. (September 9, 2010)

Patient supported by the HeartMate II device preparing for her wedding

One Woman's Story of a New Heart

View the video (7 min.) that tells Wanda Alexander's story. After waiting on the transplant list for years, she received a new healthy heart just 4 months ago at the Texas Heart Institute. Dr. Stephanie Coulter, THI cardiologist, helps tell the story for the CBS show, The Doctors, and the video features THI transplant team members Dr. Bud Frazier and Dr. Roberta Bogaev along with Wanda's family. (March 2010)
See also on this website: Heart Transplantation, and
Heart Transplant Program Celebrates 25 Years of Success

Tour the Megaheart

View the video tour (3:30 min.) of the World's First Megaheart model. Dr. Stephanie Coulter, Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, leads the tour for the CBS show, The Doctors. Follow a blood cell as it travels through the heart encountering the lungs, heart valves, the aorta, and coronary arteries. (March 2010)
See also on this website: Anatomy of the Heart

 

Heart Assist Device benefits 21 year old cardiomyopathy patient

View Fox 26 news interview (5:15 min. video) with cardiologist Stephanie Coulter, MD and heart failure patient Allyssa Smith. Thanks to the HeartMate II device developed in large part at THI, Allyssa is moving on with her life and sharing her story to help raise awareness of heart disease in young women. (December 2009)
See also on this website: Women and Heart Disease, and Heart Assist Devices

View the video (3:55 min.) from Fox TV on Women & Heart Disease. "Most people realize heart disease is a very common killer in the U.S. But did you know that men and women need to keep different things in mind when it comes to avoiding or surviving it? In this Ask the Doctor segment, Dr. Roberta Bogaev with Texas Heart Institute has some information that you have never heard before." (February 2010)
See also on this website: Women at High Risk

View the video (5:36 min.) from greatday Houston about preventing heart disease. Dr. Stephanie Coulter, Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, urges everyone, especially women, to know "what happens when you don't treat your heart right and what you need to do to protect your heart." (February 2010)
See also on this website: Heart Disease Risk Factors

Clinton Prognosis Excellent After Stent Procedure

View a video (3:32 min.) interview from Fox News with THI cardiologist Dr. Biswajit Kar on the stent procedure of former President Bill Clinton with an in depth look at the procedure and underlying heart disease. (February 2010)

See also on this website: Balloon Angioplasty and Stents

Ground-breaking stem cell treatment being used on pets

View ABC 13 news report (2:19 min. video) about one area of medicine where vets may be ahead of physicians—in stem cell therapy for arthritis and joint pain. It's a treatment that's just become available in Houston. The Canine Health Institute has performed six stem cell transplants on dogs. This great idea is being tested in humans here. Houston researchers at the Texas Heart Institute use the same machine to take stem cells from a patient's fat, and use them to strengthen the heart. (December 2009)

$1M in Stimulus Funds Awarded to to Rice University, Texas Heart Institute for MRI Tracking of Stem Cells

View the ABC 13 News report (video 2:44), "Study will use nanoparticles to track stem cells in heart tissue regeneration." (November 2009) Read the press release.

Pump Gives New Hope to Heart Patients

Read the CBS News Early Show report that continues the Salina Gonzales story and features Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Dr. Roberta Bogaev. (May 2009)
See also on this website: Ventricular Assist Devices
[For stories and videos that chronicle the full story, see below, "Patient Recovers Heart Function with Mechanical Assist Device."]

Treating Heart Attack Patients with
Special Stem Cells

Physician scientists at THI announced they have begun the world’s first clinical trial to treat heart attack patients with a special type of stem cell to promote better healing and to prevent congestive heart failure. Drs. James Willerson and Emerson Perin are featured. See the story and 2 min. video (courtesy of Houston Chronicle) of press conference. (April 2008)
See also on this website: Stem Cell Center

Patient Recovers Heart Function with Mechanical Assist Device
Follow the story of THI patient Salina Gonzales in these video reports.

ABC Good Morning America: Saved by the Beat (6 min. video) Report features the successful removal of an experimental heart assist device that supported Salina Gonzales until she regained function in her failing heart. Read the story at ABC News online. Drs. Roberta Bogaev and Bud Frazier are featured. (April 2008)

ABC World News: Fixing the Heart (2:30 min. video) A follow-up special report profiles Salina Gonzales as her heart recovery allows doctors to remove the heart pump device without a heart transplant. (March 2008)

ABC World News: Help for the Heart (3 min. video) A special report profiles Salina Gonzales as her heart recovers. A heart pump device has kept her alive for more than a year. Watch the 3-minute video featuring Drs. Roberta Bogaev and Bud Frazier. (January 2008)

CBS News: New Device May Heal Damaged Hearts (4 min. video) Drs. Roberta Bogaev and Bud Frazier discuss use of a left ventricular assist device with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. The heart pump may be putting Salina Gonzales on the road to recovery from heart failure. (April 2007)