Dr. Pigott's Notes

7/11/2010

On March 29th, Dr. McKinnie and I performed New Orleans’ first “hybrid” totally thoracoscopic mini-maze procedure. This was exciting for several reasons.

First, we are two of only a few physicians in the United States that have performed this procedure. The “hybrid” mini-maze consists of a totally thoracoscopic mini-maze combined with catheter based ablation. The procedure is termed “hybrid” because it involves a coordinated approach between the surgeon and the electrophysiologist.

Second, this procedure was performed in the new hybrid cath lab/ operating room at Tulane Medical Center. An operating room team as well as a cardiac catheterization team are utilized in this room. Patients suffering from long-standing atrial fibrillation now have a cutting edge option for a cure.

We’ve now performed several “hybrid” mini-mazes and are very pleased with the success. All patients thus far are “in rhythm” and have no Afib symptoms.

2/01/2010

This month, I will visit Maastrich, Netherlands to observe a “hybrid” mini-maze for atrial fibrillation. In the “hybrid” mini-maze, the surgeon performs the mini-maze procedure through thoracoscopic ports. Immediately following, in the same operating room, the electrophysiologist completes any additional ablations needed and verifies the effectiveness of the mini-maze in blocking the pathologic electrical impulses. This combined approach maximizes the chance that the patient will stay in a sinus rhythm.

Advances in surgical therapies and all aspects of medicine are common. The rapidity with which advancements in atrial fibrillation treatment are occurring, however, is astounding. I look forward to offering patients the most advanced and effective treatment for atrial fibrillation.

11/20/2009

Last Saturday, November 14, Dr. McKinnie and I hosted an atrial fibrillation seminar. This was our second time speaking at the World War II museum, and again, more than 100 people from around the New Orleans area attended… despite traffic detours, difficult parking and the Naval Band playing nearby. The turnout reaffirmed that atrial fibrillation is a common and problematic disease.

During the question and answer session, I was again impressed by the intense interest and knowledge that patients and their families have in the disease and its treatment options.

If you suffer from atrial fibrillation, Dr. McKinnie and I would be happy to evaluate you, answer all your questions, and advise you of the best treatment options.

9/13/2009

This week marked a milestone for the surgical treatment of coronary artery disease in New Orleans. After months of training and observation, I performed a coronary artery bypass grafting procedure using a robot.

Although it was initially intimidating to work with a robot, I quickly realized during training that the robotic instruments do only what I instruct them to do. Also, with tenfold magnification, the structures of the heart look enormous and permit a level of precision one would not believe possible.

The robot exactly follows my hand movements, permitting delicate surgery with minimal incisions. Patients experience much less post-operative discomfort and faster recovery.

I’m very excited about the tremendous patient benefits that the robotic techniques offer, and I look forward to offering robotic heart surgery to appropriate patients needing cardiothoracic surgery.

7/26/2009

When discussing surgical options with my patients, I’m often asked, “How much will it hurt?” Post-operative pain varies widely with each individual patient.

There are numerous strategies for managing pain after surgery. In the immediate post-operative period, I prescribe IV pain medications and replace them with oral pain medication as soon as possible. The idea is to control the pain while permitting increased patient mobility. Some patients are afraid to cough, sit in a chair or walk after surgery, but increasing mobility is the single best thing a patient can do to recover from his or her operation with the least amount of pain.

5/12/2009

Many of the reasons that patients are reluctant to undergo heart surgery are related to the sternotomy (dividing the breastbone), the long surgical incision and recovery time. The invasive nature of traditional heart surgey is a common and understandable fear.

In the last decade, however, many heart surgeries have become possible through much smaller incisions with an approach that permits faster recovery. These include surgery for atrial fibrillation, mitral valve disease and aortic valve disease. Some coronary artery bypass patients can also benefit from these advances. I continue to visit experts around the nation and around the world to bring these new techniques to my patients.

3/23/2009

Welcome to my totally new website! The web address is the same, NewOrleansHeart.com, but the remainder of the site has been completely updated. There is now much more information for physicians and patients than in the past, and I will work diligently to keep this site updated.

While I am very happy with the new look and content of this website, I’m certain that improvements can be made. If you have any suggestions to enhance the site, please email them to me at jdp@neworleansheart.com. If you have questions that would be appropriate to post on the new Frequently Asked Questions page, please include them as well. Thank you for taking the time to explore the information on this site.