Page 16 - Stuart Exposure - February '22

Page 16, Stuart Exposure

ClevelanD CliniC Martin HealtH newS

Innovative Treatment For Medications are often catheter containing the MitraClip™ device is inserted into

Mitral Valve Patients Without used to treat mitral valve the groin and guided through the femoral vein into the mitral
disease, but in more severe
valve. The clip is put into place to allow the valve to close
Invasive Surgery At Cleveland cases, damaged valves may tightly and then the catheter is removed.
Because the MitraClip procedure is minimally invasive,

be repaired or replaced.
Clinic Martin Health “Today we are able to it provides a faster recovery, less pain, reduced need for
repair the mitral valve in over blood transfusion and a better cosmetic result. Most patients
Sometimes called a “heart murmur” or a “leaky 95 percent of patients with are discharged home the following day.
valve,” mitral valve regurgitation is a common heart more severe leaks, thanks to “MitraClip offers similar benefits as traditional open
disorder. It usually is caused by an overstretched or treatment advancements,” surgery for patients that are not surgical candidates,” notes
degenerative mitral valve, a condition in which the says Edward Savage, M.D., Dr. Savage. “In cases where medical therapy has failed, this
valve doesn’t work properly and allows blood to leak a cardiothoracic surgeon can be lifesaving for patients.”
backwards. Because of this, the heart fails to pump blood and medical director of the Heart and Vascular Center at About The Frances Langford Heart Center At Cleveland
effectively into the rest of the body. Cleveland Clinic Martin Health. Clinic Martin Health
While some people have no symptoms, others may Open Surgery Alternative For Leaky Valve Offering a full spectrum of care ranging from diagnostic
experience shortness of breath, fatigue, ankle swelling and A treatment called transcatheter mitral valve edge-to- to interventional services, Cleveland Clinic Martin Health
heart palpitations. If left untreated, mitral valve disease edge repair offered at Cleveland Clinic Martin Health is an provides exceptional cardiac care to help patients lead
can result in congestive heart failure, heart arrhythmias excellent option when open surgical repair is too risky for longer, healthier lives. To schedule an appointment at
or death. a patient. While the patient is under general anesthesia, a Cleveland Clinic Martin Health, call (772) 419-2137.
Treasure Coast Outdoors

Should We Feed The Treasure Coast is because of the discharges from Lake manatees could face a $500 state fine and/or up to 60
The primary reason that we have no seagrass on the
days in prison, plus federal fines up to $100,000 and/
Starving Manatees? Okeechobee. Even though fertilizer use and leaking septic or a year in prison. The Florida Fish and Wildlife
tanks play a role, these problems existed and we still had Conservation Commission says, “Leave the feeding to
By Jim Weix seagrass. The only time we have had seagrass wiped out the professionals.” Are these the same professionals that
The lack of seagrass on the Treasure Coast is when we have these discharges. had truckloads of lettuce by a power plant, but there were
is acute in the Indian It then takes years to recover, provided there are no more no manatees to feed?
River Lagoon, particularly discharges. A judge, who had been my grade school basketball
on the Treasure Coast, A friend of mine told me that she had two “skinny” coach, once told me that laws were like a donut. The hole
and the result has been manatees hanging out by her riverside dock. She and in the middle is for common sense.
record manatee deaths. her husband fed them some lettuce, which they quickly Editor’s note: Jim Weix is an avid hunter, angler,
The Treasure Coast is devoured. They then went to the store and bought more conservationist, as well as an outdoor writer.
part of a 150-mile-long lettuce. Is it wrong for them to give a starving animal Jim is included in the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s
saltwater estuary where food? Hall of Fame, for his work in helping restore thousands
more than 90 percent of I personally don’t think it is wrong under the of acres of wetlands. Jim is a broker associate with The
the seagrass grows, which circumstances, but it is illegal. These are extraordinary Keyes Company. He can be reached at (772) 341-2941
is the manatee’s main food source. The record number times for manatees, so I understand why some people or by email: jimweix@jimweix.com.
of manatee deaths this year is an estimated 10 percent of would ignore the laws.
the total Florida population. However the law says that people feeding starving