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Q:Question: What is beating-heart coronary artery bypass surgery and how is it performed?
A:Answer:In an open-chest, beating-heart bypass procedure, surgeons make an incision through the breastbone to gain access to the heart. In many cases, surgeons do a partial sternotomy, which is a shorter incision through the breastbone than a full sternotomy. Unlike traditional bypass surgery, the heart is not stopped during a beating-heart bypass procedure. This approach uses special devices to stabilize the part of the heart the surgeon is operating on.
At UChicago Medicine AdventHealth, beating-heart bypass is typically performed without the use of a heart-lung bypass machine, though it may be performed with the support of the machine in some cases.
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Q:Question: What are the benefits of beating-heart bypass surgery?
A:Answer:Compared to traditional bypass surgery, the benefits of beating-heart bypass surgery include:
- Better preservation of heart function
- Less chance for heart rhythm, kidney or liver complications
- Quicker recovery
- Reduced hospital stay
- Reduced risk of neurological injury, including stroke and memory function damage
This approach is especially beneficial for patients who have multiple health conditions or are considered high-risk for traditional surgery.
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Q:Question: Who is a candidate for the beating-heart surgical approach?
A:Answer:Most people who require coronary artery bypass graft surgery are candidates for the beating-heart surgical approach. Surgeons weigh several factors, such as the location of blocked arteries, a patient's history of past thoracic surgeries and the presence of co-existing diseases. Patients with very poor heart function, cases requiring re-operation involving the side of the heart and hearts that cannot tolerate manipulation may not be the right fit for this approach.
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Q:Question: Is beating-heart bypass surgery widely available?
A:Answer:More than 95% of coronary bypass surgeries performed at our UChicago Medicine AdventHealth hospitals are done on a beating heart. Although beating-heart bypass is not an option for all patients requiring bypass surgery, our experienced surgeons are frequently able to offer it safely to many patients.
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Q:Question: What is the difference between in-hospital and community-based palliative care?
A:Answer:The main difference between these two services is the location where care is given.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerIn-hospital palliative care, offered at our UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale and La Grange hospitals, will likely include many health professionals, including:
- Case management members
- Chaplains
- ICU and therapy teams
- Nurse practitioners
These experts collaborate to address your whole health. Using a combination of pain management techniques, mental health care and spiritual support, we’ll ensure your treatment plan helps you feel like yourself again.
Community-based palliative care, offered through UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Medical Group, will likely include health professionals such as:
- Collaborating physicians
- Nurse practitioners
- Social workers
- Triage nurses
Our community-based team sees most of their patients in their own homes across the Chicagoland area. They also care for patients in hospitals, independent living, assisted living and long-term care nursing facilities.
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Q:Question: What’s the difference between palliative care and hospice care?
A:Answer:Hospice care aims to comfort patients during their last days, while palliative care assists with everyday needs for those facing serious illnesses.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerPalliative and hospice care are often confused but aren’t the same thing. Hospice care focuses on end-of-life care, offering dignity and comfort during a loved one’s final days. In contrast, palliative care focuses on helping you live every day to its fullest during any stage of health.
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Q:Question: Does Medicare cover palliative care services?
A:Answer:Medicare covers some palliative care services, but it’s best to speak to your local hospital's financial assistance team.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerUnderstanding what services are covered by insurance, including Medicare, can feel overwhelming. Some palliative care services may be covered by certain Medicare plans. However, the best place to begin understanding your coverage is to speak to the financial assistance office at your local hospital.
UChicago Medicine AdventHealth is committed to helping you understand your insurance benefits, including what palliative care services are covered by Medicare.
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Q:Question: What does palliative care mean?
A:Answer:Palliative care supports you and your family as you navigate your physical, mental and spiritual health needs.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerPalliative care means we’re here to address every aspect of your health — physical, mental and spiritual — as you face your condition.
Both community-based and in-hospital services provide discussions about your preferences for care, advanced care planning as well as:
- Comfort care
- Emotional support
- Improving quality of life
- Offering symptom relief
- Physical and psychosocial relief
- Reducing stress
- Spiritual care, if desired
Both palliative care programs offer important resources and support for your family to help you on your journey. Each care plan is tailored to your specific needs, but plans often include:
- Affirmation of life
- Bereavement care
- Education on disease and diagnosis
- Family support
- Home help with transportation, meals or shopping
- Pain relief
- Physical care
- Psychological care
- Respite care
- Spiritual care
- Treatment management
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Q:Question: What is palliative care?
A:Answer:Palliative care means offering relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of chronic illnesses.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerFor patients who face a serious illness, palliative care improves their quality of life and supports their loved ones, too. Palliative care focuses on the prevention and relief of symptoms by early identification, impeccable assessment and compassionate treatment of physical, mental and spiritual issues.
This palliative definition from the World Health Organization (WHO) focuses on meeting the whole-health needs of patients and their families. And that’s exactly what we do at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth. You can count on us to be here for you, helping you understand your diagnosis, connecting you with resources and support and ensuring you feel comfortable at every step of your treatment plan.
Our palliative care teams support:
- ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
- Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias
- Cancer
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Congestive heart failure
- Heart disease
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS)
- Kidney disease
- Lung disease
- Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases
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Q:Question: How does the medical weight-loss program work?
A:Answer:Our medical weight-loss program helps you achieve a healthier weight by supporting your whole health — body, mind and spirit — without bariatric surgery. You’ll discuss your medical history and weight-loss goals with your physician to choose the right solutions for you.
In our program, you can expect the following:
- Individual weight-loss treatment plans
- Losing an average of one to four pounds per week (results may vary)
- Metabolic testing to customize nutrition plans
- Lifestyle modification training
- A focus on habit-building for sustainable weight loss