Endoscopic Vein Harvesting Speeds Heart Surgery Recovery
In most heart bypass surgeries, the patient’s saphenous vein from the leg is used to bypass blocked or narrowed arteries in the heart.

Historically, obtaining this vessel required an incision from ankle to knee or groin. Often, this resulted in post-operative discomfort, a long scar and sometimes a delay in recovery.

At Providence St. Peter Hospital, all patients who undergo surgery for blocked coronary arteries in the heart now receive the benefits of endoscopic vein harvesting, a minimally invasive procedure using mini-surgical instruments and a camera.

An endoscope, a hollow tube used to view the inside of a body area, is inserted through a one-inch incision in the leg. The endoscope is linked to a video monitoring system from which the surgical team can view the saphenous vein and identify which portion of the vein to remove. The vein can be removed through one to three small incisions, with minimal trauma to the leg.

Endoscopic vein harvesting offers many more benefits than the traditional "open" harvest technique. Patients typically experience no post-operative pain, infection or scarring. They are able to walk sooner after surgery and resume their normal activities more quickly. Endoscopic vein harvesting causes less muscle and tissue damage and decreases the incidence of wound healing complications. The procedure is especially beneficial to diabetic patients, who are generally at higher risk for infection.

John Elder of Olympia remains an avid runner today thanks, in part, to the endoscopic vein harvesting procedure he had at Providence St. Peter Hospital.

John had just finished his routine warm-up when he suddenly collapsed on the track. He received CPR and was taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital where he underwent quadruple bypass surgery. The endoscopic vein harvesting technique was used to obtain his saphenous vein for bypassing some of the blocked coronary arteries in his heart.

"The day after I returned from the hospital, I was able to walk once around the track without any pain in my leg," says John.

"I still enjoy running today."

You’ve Got Mail
If you would like to send well wishes to a patient at St. Peter Hospital, go to www.providence.org/swsa. Click "e-mail a patient." You can write a personal message and a hospital volunteer will deliver it to the patient’s room.

TCTV Schedule
Tune in to TCTV channel 22 or 29 for the following programs:

Toddler Nutrition
Pediatrician and nutritionist Amy Belko, M.D., discusses everything you need to know about feeding your 2- to 5-year-old a healthy diet.
March 5, 6 p.m.
March 11, 1 p.m.

Women and Colon Cancer
Gastroenterologist Kathy Wagner, M.D., discusses risk factors, screening and treatment options.
March 8, 7 p.m.
March 20, 11 a.m.
March 26, 7 p.m.

Building Renamed Emilie Gamelin Pavilion
Since its opening in 1992, Building Two (also called the Outpatient Surgery Center and Ambulatory Services Building), has housed outpatient surgery, inpatient rehabilitation, physical therapy and lymphedema treatment. The building has been renamed the Emilie Gamelin Pavilion in honor of the Sisters of Providence foundress.

Wellness Luncheon
Save the Date!
Mark your calendar for Providence St. Peter Foundation’s 2003 Wellness Luncheon. Celebrity Ann Jillian will share her inspirational story of breast cancer survival. Proceeds from the luncheon will support Providence St. Peter Hospital’s Regional Cancer Program.
May 29, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Worthington Center, Saint Martin’s College
Cost is $75.
Call 360/493-7981 for reservations or more information.

Foundation News -- Capital Campaign Chairs Announced
Providence St. Peter Foundation Board has endorsed a $4.3 million fund-raising campaign to support the hospital’s "Campus Renewal" construction projects. The campaign tri-chairs are Peter Fluetsch, Bob Lovely and Sharon Seaman. Jim Reus, M.D., and Bill Hurley, M.D., are the medical co-chairs.

The board allocated $1 million for new cardiac cath labs that opened in 2001. An additional $1 million was raised during the first three months of the campaign. The Foundation is seeking pledges to raise the remaining $2.3 million for a new emergency department, which is scheduled to open in June 2003. For details, call the Foundation at 360/493-7981.

Regional MDA Clinic Opens
Providence St. Peter Hospital, in conjunction with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), has opened a regional neuromuscular disease clinic to serve Southwest Washington. This is the only MDA clinic between Seattle and Portland.

The hospital has partnered with MDA for the past 12 years in providing a monthly adult clinic but is now expanding its services. The clinic will provide physical medicine and rehabilitation services to adults and children with more than 40 MDA neuromuscular diseases, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS). Patients and their families will have the opportunity to access weekly clinics, clinical research trials and a variety of support services.

Rehabilitation physicians Greg Carter, M.D., and Tom Hecht, M.D., will see patients at the clinic. The clinic is also staffed by physical and occupational therapists, speech language pathologists and nurses.

To learn more about services available to families affected by muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases, call 253/627-7575.

Become a MotherCare Mentor
Would you like to help a young mother? Providence SoundHomeCare and Hospice recently received a $73,000 grant from the Sisters of Providence to implement a mentorship program called MotherCare. Mother-Care matches volunteer mentors from the community with young mothers who may need guidance in creating a safe, organized and peaceful family home.

Volunteers are needed in Thurston, Lewis and Mason counties. You will receive 10 hours of training on topics such as budgeting, nutrition, child development, cross-cultural communication and personal safety. You must be at least 25 years of age to apply. For more information, call Juli Kelen at 360/493-5946 or 800-869-7062.