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WHEN ARNOLD POMEROY
suffered congestive heart
failure for the second time, his wife was told there was
nothing else that could be done for him and he was placed
on hospice. Fortunately, his cardiologist referred him to
Michael D. Kwan, M.D.,
and the Advanced Heart Failure
and Cardiac Transplant Program at Methodist Hospital
who recognized that there was another alternative. “He
saved my life,” said Pomeroy, 69.
Dr. Kwan and his team implanted a ventricular assist
device (VAD) in the patient’s chest. These mechanical de-
vices maintain the heart’s pumping ability by supporting
VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICES SAVE LIVES
the heart’s ventricle. VADs may be used to support the
heart until it recovers, to support the heart while the pa-
tient waits for a heart transplant, also known as a bridge
to transplant, or to help the heart work better in patients
who are not candidates for a heart transplant, known as
destination therapy. Methodist Hospital is the only ap-
proved destination therapy program in South Texas and
utilizes the HeartMate® II left ventricular assist device as
a bridge to transplant or as destination therapy as a trans-
plant alternative.
When a patient, like Pomeroy, is not a candidate for
transplant, the VAD can provide long-term support for the
patient’s heart as destination therapy. “We knew that Mr.
Pomeroy could tolerate the surgery,” said Dr. Kwan. “He
is a cancer survivor, and his current medical issues were
isolated to his heart. He had no other diseases that would
interfere with the procedure.”
Pomeroy was implanted in August 2013, and he says he
is leading a normal life with his wife of 48 years and their
son.
“We want to encourage more patients with heart
disease to consider surgical options such as transplant or
mechanical assist devices as an option,” said Dr. Kwan. “As
in Mr. Pomeroy’s case, it can save lives.”
VADs are surgically connected to the heart in two
places, replacing the pumping function of the existing
heart. Once the VAD is implanted and attached to the left,
right or both ventricles of the heart, the system is powered
by wires leading to external batteries carried in a portable
pack. The batteries are carried outside the body, usually
in a shoulder holster, and they are connected to the pump
with a cable that goes into the body. When the patient is at
home, electricity is used instead of the batteries.
Methodist Hospital has the largest heart transplant
program in Central and South Texas. More than 400
transplants have been performed and 200 assist devices
have been implanted since the program’s inception in
1986.
For more information
about the Methodist Advanced Heart
Failure and Cardiac Transplant Program,
call our clinic at 210-575-8485.
METHODIST STONE OAK HOSPITAL
is the first
hospital in San Antonio to offer the integrated table
motion technology for its daVinci Xi® surgical system.
Cannon Lewis, M.D.,
colorectal surgeon, performed
the first procedure with the new technology, which
maximizes access, exposure and reach during robotic-
assisted procedures and will broaden the range of
minimally invasive procedure options for patients.
Vicki Mohr, 67, was one of the first patients to bene-
fit from the new technology. “I was having severe pains
in my stomach for several days,” she said. “It felt like a
knife was going up my rectum.”
Mohr, who lives outside Temple, Texas, developed
more symptoms during a visit to San Antonio and went
to the emergency department at Methodist Hospital.
“Within 15 minutes of walking to the hospital, tests
were underway,” she said. She was then referred to
Dr. Lewis, who saw the advantages of using the new
technology.
EXPERT CARE
An experienced colorectal surgeon,
Dr. Lewis recognized the symptoms immediately.
Mohr had diverticulitis, an inflammation of the co-
lon. A fistula, or tunnel, had developed between the
colon and the vagina, and waste and pus were drain-
ing through her vagina. During the procedure, he
took out the bowel, separated the organs and found
the connection to the vagina. He eliminated the
diseased part of the colon and then reconnected the
colon to the rectum.
“This was a complicated procedure made much
easier for the patient with the new technology,” said
Dr. Lewis. “Managing any complex surgery requires
intricate coordination and orchestration, and the new
integrated table motion technology is a significant
advancement.”
IDEAL INTERACTION
The new technology provides
surgical teams with the real-time ability to reposi-
tion the operating table with the surgical robotic arms
docked, enabling surgeons to interact with tissue at an
ideal working angle.
“Dr. Lewis is a master,” said Mohr, who had her last
checkup at the end of December.
Mohr said the care she received at both Methodist
Hospital and Methodist Stone Oak Hospital was
outstanding. She and her husband took goodies to
the staff at Methodist Stone Oak. “They earned them,”
said Mohr, who has returned to horseback riding and
enjoying an active life.
Vicki Mohr is back to horseback riding and enjoying an active life after benefiting from the new surgical
technology.
METHODIST STONE OAK FIRST LOCAL
HOSPITAL TO OFFER NEW SURGICAL
TABLE TECHNOLOGY
K E E P I N G
W E L L
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M e t h o d i s t H e a l t h c a r e