Cardiovascular Services in Beaumont
Personalized Care at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas
Prioritizing heart health is important. Cardiovascular disease is our nation’s leading cause of death, which is why Baptist Beaumont Hospital’s team of cardiologists, vascular surgeons, and staff focus on keeping hearts strong. Our highly trained staff and board-certified physicians at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas are dedicated to providing the highest quality heart care and achieving optimal patient outcomes.
Our Beaumont hospital offers preventive treatments and comprehensive diagnostic options to screen for heart and valve disease, increasing the chances of early detection.
Care When It Matters Most
Every second counts when you are experiencing a stroke or heart attack. The team at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas provides rapid diagnosis and treatment designed to improve your chances of survival and recovery
These treatments include:
- Systematic approach to treatment for chest pain
- Advanced techniques to diagnose stroke and heart attacks including coronary CT angiography
- Ability for paramedics to send EKG results while en route to hospital
- On-call heart and stroke specialists available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Noninvasive Arctic Sun cooling for post-cardiac arrest care
- Telemedicine that enables real-time consultations with specially trained stroke neurologists at the University of Texas – Houston
- Minimally invasive TAVR treatment for severe aortic stenosis
Recovery Care
Following a heart attack or stroke, Baptist Hospital in Beaumont offers a cardiac rehabilitation program coordinated by a specially trained cardiovascular health and rehabilitation nurse. These programs provide expert stroke and heart rehabilitation care under the direction of a licensed physician.
The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program provides inpatient and outpatient therapy designed to:
- Decrease risk factors that contribute to further cardiovascular disease
- Provide exercise and education to improve overall health
- Improve quality of life through a personalized treatment plan adapted to the individual’s needs and limitations
From our national recognition as a Level IV Chest Pain Center by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care to our Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, we keep our patients at the heart of all we do.
Types of Procedures
Baptist Hospitals in Southeast Texas can help with your journey for weight loss and most of our weight loss surgeries are performed using minimally invasive techniques.
This procedure is intended for people who have a large amount of weight to loose, high BMI >50, managing multiple medical conditions, and/or on multiple medications for conditions. Changes made to the stomach size and small intestine result in your body being unable to handle as much food while also absorbing fewer calories. With intestinal area bypassed and the body experiencing changes in absorption of nutrients, this type of surgery minimizes the chance for weight regain. To experience the best success with outcomes patients must be very compliant with all diet instructions and medication recommendations.
Potential Complications:
According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the operative morbidity (complications) associated with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in the hands of a certified skilled surgeon is less than 2- 5%.
General and Specific to Gastric Bypass
- Bleeding*
- Complications due to anesthesia and medications
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Dehiscence (separation of areas that are stitched or stapled together)
- Infections
- Leaks from staple lines
- Marginal ulcers
- Spleen injury*
- Stenosis (narrowing of a passage, such as valve)
- Internal hernias
- Gallstones
- Changes in body image
- Death
Possible Side Effects
- Need to avoid pregnancy temporarily
- Lactose intolerance
- Sensory changes (taste and smell)
- A stretched pouch when chronic overeating occurs
- Dumping syndrome
- Triggered by eating too large amounts of food or choices high in sugar.
- Nausea, vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, excessive sweating, increased gas and dizziness
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Potential poor absorption of calcium, B12, iron, causing bone pain, loss, or chronic anemia.
- Changes in effectiveness of screenings such as x-ray or endoscopy, so be sure to document medical history.
* To control operative bleeding, removal of the spleen may be necessary, this is very rare.
The sleeve gastrectomy removes part of the stomach to create a tube or “sleeve” to limit the amount of food intake to support weight loss. Changes in appetite occur due to the part of the stomach removed is the section that produces the “hunger hormone” ghrelin. The stomach that remains is the size of a small banana and holds about 3-5 ounces. Because experiencing a fullness sensation quicker it is important for the lifelong changes for health to include smaller portions and select healthier food choices to maintain weight loss during aging.
Potential Complications
General and Specific to Sleeve Gastrectomy
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pneumonia
- Splenectomy
- Gastric leak and fistula
- Postoperative bleeding
- Wound infection
- Stricture
- Death
Possible Side Effects
-
Vitamin deficiencies
- May lead to hair loss or changes in skin
-
Esophageal spasms or pain
- May cause heartburn or food intolerance
-
Changes in digestion
- May be slower or have changes in bowel habits based on food & beverage intake
- Weight regain
Overall, complications happen in less than 1% of patients who undergo the sleeve gastrectomy procedure.
Revisional surgery is typically considered in patients who have complications from prior bariatric/weight loss procedures. Most of the time, this surgery is needed due to severe nausea, difficulty swallowing, severe acid reflux, or if a previous condition of hernia repair was not completed at the initial surgery time. Because it is a re-operation, there are higher risk for complications (about 10%).
Lap band surgery implanted an inflatable band to create a smaller stomach pouch. This band can be adjusted as needed to better match the limits on food needed by the patient or at times it is removed to then convert to another gastric surgery for weight loss.
Overall, post-operative care is similar to other procedures, requiring diet changes, and strong recommendations to continue follow-up care for life with a certified bariatric surgeon to minimize risk and complications. This supports better health during life changes because having a history of gastric surgeries changes the specific needs of a patient.
For more information, visit the websites listed below:
- Deputy Heart Attack – Learn how to help save friends and family during a heart attack
- Early Heart Attack Care initiative – Learn about early symptoms of a heart attack
- Read more about our work with heart failure
- Baptist Beaumont Hospital Receives Vascular Testing Certification