 A fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Hartmuth Bittner, MD, PhD, is a medical doctor focusing on cardiothoracic disease. In April 2021, Dr Hartmuth Bittner joined Cardiac Surgery Associates (CSA) in Lafayette, Indiana. CSA is a team dedicated to diagnosing and treating patients and promoting healthy living, including encouraging prevention measures that help lower heart attack risk.
Researchers have studied the relationship between the consumption of alcoholic beverages, such as wine, and human health over the years. Results from the studies show some compounds in wine, such as resveratrol, a natural antioxidant found in the skin of grapes, lowers bad cholesterol, helping to keep the heart healthy. According to the American Heart Association, oxidative stress correlates with many diseases, including cancer and heart disease. Oxidative stress results from an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants, resulting in damage to many tissues. Other studies suggest moderate consumption of alcohol reduces the formation of blood clots, raises good cholesterol, and may improve the function of the layer of cells that line blood vessels. Since red wine is fermented together with grape skin, its contents of useful compounds are higher than other alcoholic drinks. However, any type of alcohol should be taken in moderation and is not recommended for people with conditions such as high blood pressure, liver disease, or ulcers, among others.
0 Comments
 A specialist at Cardiac Surgery Associates, Dr. Hartmuth Bittner is an experienced medical practitioner who earned his MD magna cum laude from the University of Heidelberg Medical School in Germany and completed a medical residency at Duke University. A cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon with a career spanning three decades, Dr. Hartmuth Bittner has performed various minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgeries.
Maze surgery is often done on patients with atrial fibrillation who don't improve with medications or other treatment endeavors. Atrial fibrillation is characterized by abnormal heart rhythms that spawn from erroneous electrical activities within the upper chambers of the heart. This condition results in stray electrical signals, which consequently lead to the upper and lower chambers of the heart beating out-of-sync. Maze surgery is uniquely designed to fend off stray signals within the upper heart chambers by blocking those signals with scar tissue. The procedure begins with an incision in the chest to access the upper heart chambers while the patient is under general anesthesia. The surgeon proceeds by making cuts in strategic areas of the chamber using a scalpel, heat, or high cold energy equipment. Scars replace the cuts as the tissue heals. The scar-tissue “maze” pattern serves as a barrier to stray signals and creates a correct electrical path for necessary signals. Maze surgery elicits an improved quality of life in most patients, as the symptoms of atrial fibrillation (such as pounding heartbeat, weakness, and shortness of breath) fade after treatment. However, atrial fibrillation may return after time in some patients. When this happens, medication or another type of maze surgery will be needed.  Drawing on over 30 years of clinical and teaching experience, Dr. Hartmuth Bittner treats patients at the Lafayette, Indiana, practice Cardiac Surgery Associates S.C. Additionally, he has served as associate professor of surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center since 2019. Dr. Hartmuth Bittner is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS).
Formed by the participants in the 1997 World Congress of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery held in Paris, France, the society unites surgical centers and doctors supporting the advancement of less-invasive methods of heart surgery around the globe. Besides offering its members many networking and educational opportunities, the organization presents multiple annual awards, including the following three: The Cardiac Robotic Investigator Award Selected and announced at the ISMICS Scientific Annual Meeting, this award recognizes the best abstract about robotic cardiac surgery. Awardees receive a monetary prize to cover their travel expenses to the meeting and a one-week fellowship at the Robotic Cardiac Surgery Program at the University of Chicago Medicine, where they can observe and train for the case. The Cardiac Robotic Investigator Award is available thanks to a donation by a grateful patient and seeks to enhance robotic cardiac research and training. Young Investigator Award Eligible contestants include fellows and young surgeons with less than five years of clinical experience. Members of the ISMICS Program Committee evaluate papers presented during ISMICS Scientific Annual Meeting. Only abstracts that the Committee has reviewed and accepted for an eight-minute oral presentation continue to the final round. The Gründeman Scientific Research Award Named after former ISMICS secretary Paul F. Gründeman, MD, PhD, the organization has been granting this award for research or early innovations related to minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery (MICS) since 2018. ISMICS looks for research with a solid concept and applicability to MICS, which also meets a clinical need and is feasible for introduction in clinical practice. Both research into new techniques or applying MICS to existing procedures are eligible.  While working at Cardiac Surgery Associates’ (CSA’s) Lafayette, Indiana, location, Dr. Hartmuth Bittner harnesses his more than two decades of experience as a thoracic surgeon. In his role, Dr. Hartmuth Bittner provides quality care to his patients, utilizing the most advanced technology combined with attentive staff.
CSA serves patients in the midwestern United States, particularly Iowa, Indiana, and Illinois, specializing in vascular, heart, and lung procedures, both noninvasive and invasive. Examples of surgeries performed at its facilities include bypass surgery, valve replacement, and carotid endarterectomy (CEA). CSA’s physicians also oversee diagnostic tests, like the aortogram and intravascular ultrasound. As of 2022, Cardiac Surgery Associates operates over 22 locations. CSA prides itself on providing clear instructions to patients seeking surgery there. In addition to assisting a patient with determining their procedure’s insurance ramifications, they also do whatever possible to precertify their surgery. They contact patients seven days before planned surgery to gather information about their medical history and collect the patient’s comprehensive medication list. Their Surgical team also contacts them 24 hours beforehand to verify the arrival time and ensure the patient is healthy enough to receive it.  An accomplished cardiac surgeon, Dr. Hartmuth Bittner serves Cardiac Surgery Associates S.C. He is the founder of the Gulf Coast Cardiothoracic Surgery Institute. Dr. Hartmuth Bittner is experienced in heart failure surgeries such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement, TAVR.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement surgery involves removing and replacing an aortic valve that does not open correctly because of aortic stenosis. Aortic stenosis happens if a valve calcifies and thickens to the point that it no longer fully opens. Aortic stenosis symptoms include chest pain, fatigue, and difficulties in breathing, and the condition can lead to heart failure or cardiac death. This procedure is usually done for people who have complications resulting from open-heart surgery. TAVR is a risky procedure, and it can lead to complications. Usually, when a patient needs to have this surgery, they consult with a team of specialists regarding all options before proceeding. TAVR can relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of death, while also improving the patient's quality of life. Dr. Bittner Leading the Way In the Use of New Technology Being at Franciscan Health Lafayette6/24/2021 Franciscan Health Lafayette East has had the privilege on being one of the first 3 centers in the United States to utilize the Quest MP3ND cardiopulmonary bypass systems. Dr. Hartmuth Bittner has performed 55 open heart surgeries to date with this new technology. The MP3ND was introduced in 2021 with advanced technology in addition to the features of the traditional MPS2. This system allows more versatility and precision with each patient, allowing us to deliver a more controlled arrest and confident myocardial protection. We have the ability to deliver all blood microplegia at any ratio as well as Custodial crystalloid cardioplegia, also known as Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate solution. The Quest MP3ND allows us to adjust the drug delivery to exact dosing allowing cardioplegia delivery to be patient specific. The MPS3 ND superior advanced technology with touch screen active monitoring controller and numerous additional safety features. The real time data collection and internal battery are new features for cardioplegia delivery systems. The auto start feature allows for precise closure of the patients aortic valve and better distribution of cardioplegia. Once arrested, we can select the auto feature to continue to deliver our cardioplegia solution with variable flow at a precise pressure while delivering antegrade, ostial, or retrograde cardioplegia. The additional ND feature, no disinfection, mitigates the risk of M.Chimera contamination. The MPS3ND disposable attaches externally to a water source to thermoregulate the patient’s cardioplegia circuit for cold or warm delivery. With the disconnection of this disposable, the system allows for complete removal of water from the MPS system after the case. This feature alleviates the risk of contaminating the cardiac OR sterile field, and therefore the costs associated with surgical site infections due to Mycobacterium Chimera. via WordPress https://ift.tt/3jodpm3  Practicing with Cardiac Surgery Associates, SC, in Lafayette, Indiana, Dr. Hartmuth Bittner has extensive knowledge of complex conditions affecting the heart and lungs. Focused on advanced-stage and high-risk patients, Dr. Hartmuth Bittner has decades of surgical experience related to advanced heart and lung transplants.
Lung transplants involve removing a diseased lung and switching it with a healthy replacement from another individual. This can take the form of either a single or double lung transplant. Another option is bilateral sequential, which involves transplanting both lungs, but doing so one lung at a time. In addition, heart-lung transplants involve both lungs and a heart received from a single donor. A majority of such operations involve cadaveric transplants, or lungs received from organ donors who are deceased. In some cases, healthy adults who do not smoke may also donate a portion, or lobe, of one of their lungs. When such a living transplant case occurs, donors are still able to function as normal with their remaining lungs. Because of the complex, serious nature of a lung transplant, these procedures are generally reserved for those whose lung problems have been unresponsive to treatment, and who have a life expectancy of between 1 to 2 years if they do not receive a transplant. Common issues requiring such a procedure include pulmonary hypertension, severe cystic fibrosis, COPD, and heart disease. 
A board-certified thoracic surgeon and a resident of Tampa, Florida, Dr. Hartmuth Bittner attended the University of Heidelberg Medical School in Germany, where he earned his MD magna cum laude. Subsequently, Dr. Hartmuth Bittner founded Gulf Coast Cardiothoracic Surgery Institute in Tampa, and leads the medical group as president. As part of his work, he is proficient in the repairs and replacement of tricuspid and pulmonary valves and performs surgeries to repair aortic aneurysms. When patients experience a thoracic aortic aneurysm, an area in the major blood vessel known as the aorta (which conveys blood from the heart to the body) weaken. As blood pushes against the weakened wall of the defective area, that part of the vessel bulges into a balloon-like structure. For some patients, symptoms like cough and hoarseness, back pain, tenderness or pain in the chest, or difficulty breathing persist as the aortic aneurysm swells. In the worst case, which occurs when the condition has become chronic, the vessel wall may dissect (tear), resulting in internal bleeding that may lead to death. If the aneurysm is slow-growing, the wall may never dissect and a patient may never face the aforementioned symptoms or complications throughout their lifetime. An aneurysm can be treated with surgery, although this is only done when a patient’s condition warrants aggressive intervention. Surgery may be recommended if the aneurysm has grown beyond 5.5 cm in diameter, or a fast growth rate is discovered (typically over 0.5 cm in six months). Such cases have a greater chance of vessel dissection. If the condition is also causing persistent discomfort to the patient, most especially back, side, and/or stomach pain, surgical intervention may be necessary. via WordPress https://ift.tt/2Pahtt9  A resident of Tampa, Florida, Dr. Hartmuth Bittner is one of the leading heart surgeons in America and the founder of the Gulf Coast Cardiothoracic Surgery Institute. Board-certified in general, cardiac, and thoracic surgery, Dr. Hartmuth Bittner is skilled and experienced at performing a diverse range of procedures including repairing aortic aneurysms.
An aortic aneurysm is an irregular swelling that develops in the body’s main blood vessel, the aorta. This type of aneurysm typically occurs in the abdomen or the chest, although it can occur at any point along the vessel. Some aortic aneurysms remain small, although others can rapidly become larger causing problems such as pain in the chest or back and respiratory symptoms. An aneurysm can lead to additional problems including tears in the lining of the aorta, or it may rupture and cause potentially fatal internal bleeding. The most common causes of aortic aneurysms include smoking, elevated blood pressure, arterial disease, and injury due to trauma. Genetics may also influence the development of the condition. Treatment for an aortic aneurysm typically involves strengthening the aorta in the section of it that is damaged by surgically placing an artificial tube in this area.  Based in Tampa, Florida, Dr. Hartmuth Bittner serves as founder and president of the Gulf Coast Cardiothoracic Surgery Institute. Dr. Hartmuth Bittner recently expanded his professional activities, joining Florida Hospital as a heart and lung transplant surgeon.
Dr. Bittner’s arrival signals a milestone for the facility’s heart and lung transplant program. Surgeons at Florida Hospital performed their first organ transplant procedure (a kidney) nearly four decades ago. Since that time, the staff has worked tirelessly to transform Florida Hospital into an all-purpose transplant center. The facility’s first heart transplant was performed early in 2020, and the presence of Dr. Bittner (who is now the surgical director of the heart and lung transplant program) will allow for lung transplant operations. Florida Hospital is now capable of meeting the medical needs of the 10 to 20 patients living in Central Florida who must seek lung transplant services in other parts of the state every year. In fact, Florida Hospital becomes just the fifth facility in the state capable of supporting lung transplant procedures. Dr. Andres Pelaez will also play a critical role in the program's future, serving as medical director of lung transplantation. |
AuthorDr. Hartmuth Bittner - Founder and President of GCCSI. Archives
September 2022
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
