Laredo Medical Center Offers Quality Heart Care Close to Home
1/5/2024
LAREDO, TX (January 4, 2024) – Area residents have another choice to receive heart care close to home. Patients who suffer from heart-related illnesses can turn to Laredo Medical Center, which now has a comprehensive Heart and Vascular Program that is elevating patient-centered care via advances in the prevention, detection and treatment of heart disease.
“The future of cardiac care looks bright for Laredo and Webb County,” says Jorge Leal, FACHE, CEO of Laredo Medical Center. “Last year, we successfully added all the necessary components to provide a well-rounded Heart and Vascular Program for the benefit of our community.”
Here are some of the highlights from 2023:
Cardiac Cath Lab
Patients are benefiting from the newly enhanced cardiac catheterization (cath) lab, which consists of two interventional cardiology suites. Equipped with advanced technology, the cath lab is used to diagnose and treat various patient conditions, including procedures for diagnostic catheterizations, stenting and balloon angioplasty. Additionally, the suites have the capability for the hospital to offer electrophysiology services to treat arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation.
“Laredo Medical Center’s enhanced interventional cardiology suites allow us to provide a variety of diagnostic and interventional procedures in a timely manner. It enables us to capture and view more enhanced images of a patient’s coronary structure, thereby facilitating faster diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease,” says Ricardo G. Cigarroa, M.D., interventional cardiologist and an independent member of the medical staff at Laredo Medical Center.
Open Heart
In February, Laredo Medical Center and Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons of Laredo welcomed back Arthur Santos, MD, FACS, to lead the Open Heart Program. Dr. Santos is board-certified in General Surgery, Critical Care and Thoracic Surgery, and he is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
“We are excited to bring back the Cardiothoracic and Vascular program with Dr. Santos at the helm of our Open Heart Program. Dr. Santos is well known and trusted in the South Texas community, having performed more than 4,000 heart surgeries,” says Leal.
Dr. Santos performs all types of heart procedures, including multivessel cardiac bypass operations, mitral valve repair and beating heart surgery, as well as all types of vascular and thoracic procedures, enabling patients to remain in Laredo for specialized treatment.
To date, Dr. Santos and his team have performed more than 100 open heart procedures at Laredo Medical Center. In August, the hospital celebrated the grand opening of Dr. Santos’ new office, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons of Laredo – located at 1710 E. Saunders, Tower B, Suite B-385. For more information, call (956) 568-8278.
Cardiac Rehab
Patients recovering from a heart attack, bypass surgery, stent placement, stable angina, valve replacement or other cardiac illnesses can count on Laredo Medical Center’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Center. A 12-week personalized and closely monitored treatment plan is offered to patients, consisting of cardio fitness, nutrition, stress and medication management, counseling and emotional support.
The hospital inaugurated new facilities for the cardiac rehab in 2022 – and since then, more than 160 patients have benefited from the services. Upon completing the treatment plan, participants become graduates and receive certificates of recognition for completing the program.
Commitment to Healthy Hearts
CEO Leal says that the Heart and Vascular Program was developed with one goal in mind – to help to offer patients a second chance at life.
“Laredo Medical Center takes this goal to heart and we pledge to continue to bring more advances in cardiac care,” says Leal. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to provide unparalleled heart care services for all the patients we are privileged to serve.”
For more information about Laredo Medical Center’s Heart and Vascular Program, visit laredomedical.com/cardiac-care or call (956) 796-3223.
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