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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Category: Health

Published: 21 December 2023

White Plains Hospital has announced the launch of the Montefiore Structural Heart Program at White Plains Hospital with the successful completion of its first three minimally invasive heart valve replacement procedures, known as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacements (TAVR). The procedures, performed by Dr. Azeem Latib, a leading expert in interventional cardiology and Director of the Montefiore Structural Heart Program at White Plains Hospital, was performed in one of the Hospital’s state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization laboratories and marks a key milestone in the growth of the Hospital’s advanced cardiac services.

More than five million Americans are diagnosed with heart valve disease each year, including 1.5 million with aortic stenosis – or the narrowing of the aortic valve. This condition often appears in those 65 and older and deteriorates with age. Older patients with aortic stenosis and other congenital heart diseases can often benefit from a TAVR.

The procedure, which typically takes less than an hour, involves specially trained cardiac interventionalists, in collaboration with world-class cardiac surgeons, using advanced imaging techniques to guide a flexible tube called a catheter through a small needle hole in the groin, up through the blood vessels, to the diseased aortic valve. The team then uses the catheter to deploy a new valve, immediately restoring function and blood flow. Patients are cared for by highly trained cardiac intensivists in the Hospital’s Cardiac ICU, and many of our patients go home the next day.

White Plains Hospital is one of just two healthcare facilities in Westchester offering this life-saving procedure to patients in Westchester County. Every patient is fully evaluated by a cardiac surgeon, interventional cardiologist, cardiologist and radiologist to determine the ideal course of treatment, whether that is a TAVR procedure or open-heart surgery. Also, with advanced imaging technology on-site, including high-resolution CT scanning, fusion imaging and cardiac MRI, patients can undergo convenient, same-day pre-operative testing at the Center for Advanced Medicine & Surgery (CAMS) in White Plains prior to the procedure.

The addition of the Montefiore Structural Heart Program at White Plains Hospital builds on the success of the Montefiore Cardiac Surgery Program at White Plains Hospital, which has exceeded national benchmarks for quality with exceptional patient outcomes in the two years since its launch. The program was recently recognized with a distinguished 3-star rating, the highest available, from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, a designation that places it among the top 10% of programs for heart bypass surgery in the United States and Canada. White Plains Hospital’s cardiac care capabilities are further strengthened by its world-class Interventional Cardiology program and Cardiac Electrophysiology department, which is focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of arrythmias and other emergent cardiac issues. White Plains Hospital’s experts work closely with a network of cardiologists and specialists throughout the Hudson Valley to ensure each patient receives the specialized care they need, close to home.

“This program underscores White Plains Hospital’s commitment to growing its advanced cardiac services for patients across the Hudson Valley,” said Dr. Latib. “These expanded capabilities allow us to provide the most appropriate treatment based on our patients’ needs, whether they require open-heart surgery or a minimally invasive procedure like a TAVR. We are excited to begin performing these procedures and look forward to continuing to advance the Structural Heart Program at White Plains Hospital.”

To learn more about the Montefiore Structural Heart Program at White Plains Hospital, visit our website or call (914) 849-4200.

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Category: Health

Published: 03 January 2024

The following was submitted by Dr. Michel Nassar, Pediatric Otolaryngology at White Plains Hospital.

“Turn it down!” has been a regular refrain from parents at least since the dawn of rock ‘n’ roll. But evidence shows that adolescents should indeed be taking care when listening to, or playing, music at excessive volumes.

Obviously loud noises can have an impact on one’s hearing, especially if it is repeated regularly; that is why wearing noise-canceling headphones is recommended when leaf-blowing, working certain construction jobs, and so on. Listening to music is meant to be a pleasurable experience, but that pleasure can lead to pain if one isn’t careful.

Last year, the World Health Organization estimated that more than a billion people, aged 12 to 35, stand at risk of losing their hearing due to prolonged and excessive exposure to loud music, among other recreation factors. Meanwhile, the CDC estimates that 12.5% of children and adolescents aged 6–19 years (approximately 5.2 million) and 17% of adults aged 20–69 years (approximately 26 million) have suffered permanent damage to their hearing from excessive exposure to noise.

Younger children, whose bodies are still developing, face an especially significant risk of long-lasting damage; the popularity of ear buds (and concomitant, if inadvertent, lack of attention paid to their use by parents) has only exacerbated the problem. Hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to develop speech, language, and social skills – which in turn, if not treated, can lead to various difficulties in adolescence and even adult life.

How Loud Is Too Loud?

The rule of thumb used to be that, if you could hear the music from someone’s headset, it was probably too loud. But with advances in headphone technology, that rule may no longer be reliable.

Sounds at or below 70 decibels, which is in the range of normal conversation, are generally thought of as safe and unlikely to cause hearing loss. Headphone users often listen to music at 105 decibels, while concertgoers are typically exposed to music in the 104 to 112 decibel range. Swedish heavy metal/punk band Sleazy Joe prides itself on its decibel delivery and is generally accepted as the “loudest” band around, once topping 143 decibels on its home turf.

Obviously not everyone is listening to Sleazy Joe, but the threat of hearing damage at even an “average” rock concert is real.
“If it’s too loud, you’re too old” is another cliché. However, permanent damage is a very real possibility. Tinnitus, the familiar “ringing in the ears” sensation, can present during and for a limited time after exposure to loud music; whether brief or chronic, it is often a sign of inner ear cell damage.

In addition, sensorineural hearing loss caused by exposure to loud sounds is often irreversible. Teenagers who have a life expectancy of 60-80 years should avoid this problem that may affect them for the rest of their lives.
Discuss with your children the following approaches that, while perhaps not making you popular now, could result in gratitude as they grow older:

Lower the volume and the duration of your exposure. Keeping the volume on your headset, stereo, or even television at the 50%-60% capacity level is recommended, and keeping your exposure to about 60 minutes – admittedly difficult at a live event – can also be beneficial.

Wear earplugs at live events. Thankfully, following this advice no longer disqualifies the always image-conscious teen as someone who’s cool; in fact, earplugs are nearly undetectable by others unless they’re specifically looking for them.
People of all ages should also be aware that cochlear implant surgery can help in some cases; in fact, many recipients of cochlear implants can still go to concerts and enjoy the music of their choice.

The fact remains, however, that the earlier children with hearing loss (brought on by whatever reason) can begin receiving professional treatment, the more likely they are to realize their full potential. If you suspect that you or a family member may be facing hearing loss, consult with a physician as soon as you can.

Michel Nassar, MD, MSc, is Director, AeroDigestive Program at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, and Co-Director, CranioFacial Clinic and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at the Montefiore Medical Center. He sees patients at White Plains Hospital’s Pediatric Specialists, located at 600 Mamaroneck Avenue in Harrison. To make an appointment, call 914-849-KIDS.

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Category: Health

Published: 07 December 2023

(This article was submitted by Dr. Leia Meir, Rheumatology from White Plains Hospital)
Many people are aware of what arthritis is, but they may not know that there are over 100 different forms of the disease and related conditions. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type of autoimmune arthritis, affecting an estimated 1.3 million Americans. While there is no cure for RA (or other arthritic conditions), there are effective ways of treating and managing the disease.

The need for doing so is plain. RA affects joint linings, causing painful swelling in such locations as the joints, back and muscles. If not treated effectively, the inflammation associated with RA can lead to bone erosion and result in joint deformity. There is also quality of life to consider for all arthritic patients: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than one-third of adults who have arthritis report that it limits their leisure activities and work, while 25% of them say it causes severe pain. Fatigue, an inability to focus on tasks, depression, and other mental difficulties have all been associated with the disease.
Risk factors include whether you have a first-degree (parent, sibling) or second-degree (grandparent) relative who suffers from RA. If so, keep in mind that just because such a relative has it does not automatically mean you will develop it. Other risk factors include exposure to cigarette smoke, bacteria, viruses, gum disease, and lung disease.|

Determining whether you have RA can be tricky. Especially as we age, many of us experience stiffness when we first get out of bed. But if that stiffness lasts for 30 minutes or more, over six weeks or more, then you may have a chronic case of RA. There are also other physical manifestations to watch for, including rheumatoid nodules, firm, usually non-painful, subcutaneous (under the skin) bumps that tend to appear on fingers and knuckles, elbows, knees, and forearms. In fact, up to 40% of people with RA will eventually develop these nodules.

Ideally, diagnosing RA will be completed early before the more severe symptoms appear. There is no one test to provide a definitive answer, however, as RA presents in a similar fashion to osteoarthritis (the most common type of arthritis, affecting over 32 million Americans), Lupus, Sjogren’s Syndrome, and others. Nevertheless, an Anti-CCP antibody test (ACCP or CCP) looks for cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies, which can be found in the blood of 60% to 80% of people with rheumatoid arthritis. This test is usually conducted along with rheumatoid factor (RF) blood test. Depending on those results, a doctor may recommend X-rays, MRIs and ultrasounds to determine the severity of the disease and track the rate of its progression.

As is often the case, early detection is key when discussing treatments. Over the last couple of decades, biologics – also known as DMARDS, or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs – have come to the forefront in treating RA, given they can quickly and effectively alleviate pain and essentially put the disease into remission. These medications can be taken in pill form, or via infusion or injection. While not everyone is excited about receiving a shot, an injection may be the preferable way to go for certain individuals.

The big takeaway here is that if something is hurting, you need to discuss it with a healthcare professional, starting with your primary care provider. They can run some of the aforementioned tests and, if necessary, refer you to a rheumatologist. Living with RA in a comfortable manner is certainly achievable – but only with professional help.

Dr. Lea Meir is a rheumatologist at White Plains Hospital Physician Associates, with offices in Larchmont and New Rochelle. To make appointment, call 914-849-7400 (Larchmont) or 914-235-8224 (New Rochelle).

Health Matters
The original version of this article was published in Health Matters, a White Plains Hospital publication.