Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center has enhanced its cardiology program with open-heart surgical services, continuing its commitment to provide quality healthcare to the community. The 210-bed hospital received certification to perform open-heart surgery from the Nevada Department of Health & Human Services, Bureau of Licensure and Certification.  

Spring Valley Hospital’s full-service cardiology program features a dedicated team of experienced healthcare professionals and new equipment with leading-edge medical technology. The hospital developed its open-heart program in accordance with state and national standards and regulations. "Enhancing our cardiology program is vital to meeting the needs of our growing community, especially with the significant population increases we experience in Las Vegas," says Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center CEO Leonard Freehof.

TECHNOLOGY
Healthcare professionals coordinated the design and construction of two surgical suites, integrating the new equipment specifically needed in open-heart cases. This technology includes a newly available heart-lung machine, which is compact in size and optimized to use little or no donor blood.

The open-heart room features ceiling-mounted equipment booms that free up floor space for the operating team. Five flat display panels, including a 42-inch plasma screen monitor, optimize the view of the patient's vital statistics with no obstruction anytime during the procedure. Integration with the hospital's radiology and cardiology diagnostic systems allows the surgeon, anesthesiologist and operating team to view real-time arteriograms or transesophageal echocardiograms (heart studies), as well as the surgical site, through video imaging.

BLOOD CONSERVATION
The overall goal of the cardiothoracic surgical program is to eliminate unnecessary blood transfusion. Because Spring Valley Hospital uses a heart-lung machine and a continuous autotransfusion system, open-heart patients are less likely to need donor blood during their procedure.  These machines are specifically designed to conserve the patient's own blood. Healthier patients who receive less donated blood experience lower complication risks.

EXPERIENCE
Spring Valley Hospital's cardiology program features a dedicated open-heart team of experienced health professionals led by board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon J. E. "Rick" Martin Jr., MD. Las Vegas Life acknowledged Dr. Martin in June 2007 as "Top Doctor" in Vascular and Cardiac Surgery. With more than 20 years of surgical experience, Dr. Martin's philosophy is to provide his patients excellence in surgery with precision and attention to detail.

Just as important as the surgery is the recovery process, for which patients receive care in the hospital's critical care unit.  To provide the high level of care required for recovery, healthcare professionals throughout the facility work together to review processes and increase awareness of the unique needs of the open-heart patient.

OTHER HEART SERVICES
Spring Valley Hospital provides patients and physicians the necessary services to obtain information to diagnose heart disease and life-threatening conditions, including cardiovascular disorders.  The hospital features a Chest Pain Unit, a dedicated comprehensive Cardiac Catheterization Lab and advanced diagnostic imaging services, including a 64 Slice CT Scanner and nuclear medicine.  Additional services include coronary angiography, ventricular function tests, heart valve pressure evaluations, pacemaker implants, interventional cardiology services including stents and angioplasty, stress testing, EKG, echocardiology and peripheral vascular diagnostics.