Heart Conditions Treated in Baton Rouge and Zachary
Dr. Smith evaluates and treats these heart and vascular conditions at Cardiovascular Institute of the South. Each summary links to a plain-English page about the related procedure.
Aortic stenosis
The aortic valve narrows and stiffens, so the heart must work harder to pump blood to the body. Severe aortic stenosis can cause chest pressure, shortness of breath, tiredness or fainting. Once it causes symptoms, the valve usually needs to be replaced, by surgery or TAVR.
Mitral regurgitation
The mitral valve does not close tightly, so blood leaks backward into the lungs' side of the heart. A severe leak can cause shortness of breath, tiredness and heart failure. Treatment may include medicines, surgery or a catheter-based clip repair.
Tricuspid regurgitation
The tricuspid valve on the right side of the heart leaks, sending blood back toward the body's veins. A severe leak can cause swelling in the legs and belly, poor appetite and tiredness. For selected patients, a catheter-based clip can reduce the leak.
Atrial fibrillation stroke prevention
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular heartbeat that raises the risk of clots and stroke. Blood thinners lower that risk for most people. For those who cannot stay on blood thinners long term, left atrial appendage occlusion is an alternative.
Coronary artery disease and heart attack
Plaque narrows the arteries that feed the heart muscle, causing chest pain or a heart attack. Treatment starts with medicines and healthy habits; some patients need angioplasty and stents or bypass surgery. A heart attack is an emergency: call 911.
Heart failure
The heart cannot pump or fill well enough to meet the body's needs, leading to shortness of breath, swelling and fatigue. Medicines are the foundation of treatment. For some patients, a CardioMEMS sensor helps the care team adjust medicines before symptoms flare.
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) and stroke
A PFO is a small flap-like opening between the heart's upper chambers that is common and usually harmless. In some people who have had a stroke with no other cause found, closing the PFO lowers the chance of another stroke. An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a larger hole that may also be closed by catheter.
Pulmonary embolism
A blood clot, usually from a leg vein, travels to the lungs. Most patients are treated with blood thinners. Selected patients with large clots that strain the heart may benefit from catheter-based clot removal.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
The heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, which can block blood flow out of the heart and cause shortness of breath, chest pain or fainting. Echocardiography makes the diagnosis and guides treatment. Options include medicines and, for selected patients with blocked outflow, surgery or alcohol septal ablation, a catheter procedure Dr. Smith performs.
Ask about your heart condition at Cardiovascular Institute of the South
Dr. Smith sees patients at CIS Baton Rouge, 8401 Picardy Avenue · (225) 308-0247, and CIS Zachary, 6550 Main Street, Suite 1000 · (225) 654-1559. Your primary care doctor or cardiologist can also send a referral.