New ways of treating cardiac arrest, lung cancer and damaged joints
Saving brain function after a cardiac arrest
“For certain patients who have experienced cardiac arrest, therapeutic hypothermia is a life- and brain-saving therapy,” explains Eric Sztejman, MD, director of Virtua’s Therapeutic Hypothermia Program and critical care medicine at Virtua Marlton.
Dr. Sztejman: “After cardiac arrest, lack of blood flow causes brain tissue to die. Using therapeutic hypothermia — dramatically cooling down someone’s body temperature for a period of time — halts brain tissue death, enabling many people to have a robust recovery.”
Advancements in lung cancer diagnosis
“Unfortunately, lung cancer is a common disease,” says Angel Rodis, MD, Virtua pulmonologist. “Using the most accurate tools to obtain a biopsy is the entry point for providing the most effective treatment.”
Christopher Derivaux, MD, Virtua thoracic surgeon, explains: “When a patient is sent to me with an abnormal lung finding, I use EBUS, or endobronchial ultrasound, to determine if certain lymph nodes in the chest are cancerous. I don’t need to make an incision into the chest wall.”
By threading the EBUS scope through a person’s airway and internally locating the suspicious lymph nodes, the surgeon gets a very accurate biopsy sample.
Dr. Derivaux: “Prior to EBUS, this kind of biopsy always meant an incision into the chest wall and everything that entails. Now, it is much easier for the patient.”
A new concept in hip and knee replacement
Virtua builds upon its nationally recognized Orthopaedic Program of Excellence with the formation of the Virtua Joint Replacement Institute led by Medical Director Scott Schoifet, MD. Each patient benefits from:
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A Personal Health Navigator schedules everything from health insurance clearance to pre-admission testing through rehabilitation.
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The most advanced surgical options for same-day knee replacement and minimally invasive knee replacement surgery.
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The highest quality clinical care results in lower infection rates and hospital length of stay — lower than other hospitals nationwide.
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Back to work and play months faster because of minimally invasive techniques.