Housecall host Dr. David Doman invites Dr. Christian Shults, a Cardiac Surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center to discuss his cardiac surgery including robotics. Currently Dr. Shults is one of 8 Cardiac Surgeons all who have their own specific niche, his is aortic valvular and Afib. There is a broad range of specialties, including Robotic Surgeon, Adult Congenital (for people born with heart abnormalities), Heart Failure Team (focus on ♡ Transplants), Mechanical Circulatory (patients at end stage of heart failure), there is also a couple of Generalist, and Structural Heart to round out this impressive broad team of expertise who can cover anything that’s needed.
The relentless advancements in surgery are rapidly evolving. One of the main problems is the limited amount of organs. One development at MedStar Washington Hospital Center is a Mechanical Circulatory Support. When hearts aren’t always available an implant of a small pump can be implanted at the Apex, the tip of the heart and it can take over for the failing left ventricle. Creating a mechanical heart or using an animal heart is tricky. The heart is an efficient machine that pumps millions of times and prevents clots from forming, its has proven difficult to duplicate. Watch to learn more!
