st. clair hospital housecall vol ii issue 4
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VOLUME II, ISSUE 2
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E
ADVANCED SURGICAL TECHNIQUES
MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY CASE STUDY
ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS
ASK THE DOCTOR
NEW PATIENT OBSERVATION UNIT
ER EARNS HIGHEST RANKING
ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL LIFELINE PROGRAM
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
VOLUME II, ISSUE 4
St. Clair Hospital surgeons perform more than 11,000
surgeries each year and that number is expected to increase approximately
3 percent to 4 percent annually. To meet the growing demand, the Hospital unveiled the
area’s newest surgical facilities this fall, featuring three state-of-the-art operating
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For decades, patients with suspicious
spots in their lungs have undergone
a bronchoscopy, in which a lighted flexible
tube is inserted into the lungs to help
surgeons pinpoint the location of the lesion
and to take a sample to biopsy it.
Trouble is, an estimated two-thirds of
lung lesions are outside the reach of a
conventional bronchoscope – an instrument
that provides safe, painless access to the
lungs, but yields an answer only 33 percent
of the time.
In those cases, surgeons will often turn
to other methods to reach the lesions,
including needle aspiration, an often effective
procedure, but one that can result in a
collapsed lung. Or, patients might
LEADING TEC NNOLOGYPinpointing Cancer Earlier
ANTONIO J. RIPEPI, M.D.,GENERAL SURGEON, inone of the three newoperating rooms.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
CONTINUED GROWTH
H
New Operating Rooms Meet Increasing Demand
2
Years ago, most surgical incisions were measured
in inches. But today’s advances in minimally
invasive surgery have led to many procedures being
performed through the tiniest of slits – measuring
only a few millimeters. What was once regarded as
technology available only in the distant future,
minimally invasive surgery is the foundation of
today’s health care environment and the result of
specially designed, sophisticated tools that allow
St. Clair Hospital’s surgeons to perform numerous
complex surgeries with small surgical incisions.
The benefits of minimally invasive surgery include
excellent surgical outcomes, fewer complications, less
blood loss, quicker healing, a shorter recovery period
and hospital stay, minimal pain, nominal or no
scarring, and a return to one’s normal activities much
sooner. Minimally invasive surgical techniques are also
useful in analyzing diseases or illnesses that prove to
be diagnostically challenging and in helping to make
terminally ill patients more comfortable throughout the
remainder of their care.
“There are so many surgical options available at
St. Clair Hospital,” says G. Alan Yeasted, M.D., Senior
Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at St. Clair.
“Our highly trained surgical staff continually produces
excellent results and outcomes for patients.”
With an ongoing focus on patient safety and pain
management, St. Clair has developed a number of
measures to ensure that every patient’s surgical
experience is as safe as possible. While all surgeries
involve certain risks, the Hospital’s professional staff
has implemented many initiatives that pay particular
attention to infection control, blood clot reduction
and pain management, effectively reducing or even
preventing these risks. This unparalleled dedication
to clinical excellence and patient safety has resulted
in the Hospital’s receipt of numerous regional and
national awards.
“One of the most important advantages of having
your surgery at St. Clair is that your care is coordinated
by your surgeon,” says Antonio J. Ripepi, M.D., a
board-certified general surgeon who performed Western
Pennsylvania’s first single-incision gallbladder surgical
procedure at St. Clair Hospital in October 2008. “The
physician you meet initially is the same surgeon who
performs your surgery and provides follow-up care
leading to a completely personalized, and superior
surgical experience.”
Kevin Bordeau, M.D., a board-certified urological
surgeon at St. Clair, agrees. “St. Clair Hospital is a
growing, technologically advanced hospital. The
open and friendly environment here allows surgeons
to be immediately available to patients to answer
questions, explain procedures, and, ultimately, lessen
their anxiety.”
Advanced Surgical TechniquesImprove Patient Experience
For more information about minimally invasive surgical services
at St. Clair Hospital, please visit www.stclair.org.
“ T h e r e a r e s o m a n y s u r g i c a l o p t i o n s a v a i l a b l e
Eng Hui Khor of Upper St. Clair was an active 35-year-old
who consumed a diet rich in fruits and vegetables,
exercised regularly and maintained a healthy weight. So it was
surprising and perplexing when his blood pressure levels
were consistently high.
Initially, Mr. Khor was placed on medication to control his high
blood pressure, but after awhile,the medications ceased working
and another medication needed to be prescribed. This changing
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Following minimally invasive surgery, patient ENG HUI KHOR was ableto be discharged the next day and return to everyday activitieswithout delay.
medication cycle continued for several years, with no one
medication sustaining an adequate blood pressure level.
When his blood pressure was still high and his potassium
level was low during a routine physical at age 40, Mr. Khor’s
primary care physician, James Moretti, M.D., a board-certified
family practice physician at St. Clair Hospital, suspected a
condition known as Conn’s syndrome. A rare and often under-
diagnosed condition, Conn’s syndrome (also called primary
hyperaldosteronism) is a disorder in which excess amounts of
the hormone aldosterone are produced by the adrenal glands,
which are located atop each kidney. Along with causing high
blood pressure and low potassium levels, Conn’s syndrome
can also produce headache, fatigue, increased urine production,
muscular weakness and excessive thirst.
To further investigate the condition, Dr. Moretti scheduled an
appointment for Mr. Khor with Qizhi Xie, M.D., a board-certified
nephrologist at St. Clair. Following blood work and a kidney
ultrasound, Mr. Khor’s potassium levels were determined to be
low, and his aldosterone levels were high. Dr. Xie
recommended a CT (computerized tomography) scan – this time
Patient’s Rare Syndrome EffectivelyTreated Using Minimally Invasive Approach
I couldn’t believe thatthis type of surgery could bedone in a minimally invasive
manner, at a hospitalright in my backyard.”“
–Eng Hui Khor of Upper St. Clair
CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
t o p a t i e n t s a t S t . C l a i r H o s p i t a l . ”
G . A L A N Y E A S T E D , M . D . , S E N I O R V I C E P R E S I D E N TA N D C H I E F M E D I C A L O F F I C E R
Pinpointing Cancer EarlierCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
THE iLOGIC INREACH SYSTEM AT WORK
On a recent afternoon in a Hospital operating room, Dr. Maley
used the iLogic system to obtain a sample from a lymph node in
the right lung of 63-year-old Donald Drew of Bridgeville.
Just prior to being put to sleep for the procedure, Donald
explains to an observer that he was diagnosed with Large B-Cell
Lymphoma, a cancer in the lymphatic system of his neck, a little
over two years ago.
Donald says he was in remission for about 15 months when
a follow-up exam revealed a cancerous nodule on his right lung
and an enlarged lymph node in the center of his chest.
A biopsy of the lung nodule showed lung cancer, not
lymphoma. Perhaps, Donald’s oncologist wondered at the
time, the lung cancer had spread to the lymph node. But
while three chemotherapy treatments for the lung cancer
helped shrink the tumor, it had no affect on the enlarged
lymph node. In fact, it grew larger.
As Donald is prepped for the procedure in the operating
room, Dr. Maley explains that he needs to access the
lymph node to determine if Donald’s
lymphoma, once confined to his neck,
was now also in his chest, or if the
lymph node just contained drug
resistant lung cancer.
Lymph nodes in the chest, though,
are not directly accessible via the windpipe,
explains Dr. Maley. “So we’re going to use the
“–Richard H. Maley, M.D.,
Certified Thoracic Surgeon, St. Clair Hospital
undergo surgical biopsy, a highly invasive procedure in which
an incision is made in the chest cavity.
Now, physicians at St. Clair Hospital have another option
to help them reach so-called “distal” lung lesions, as well as
enlarged lymph nodes that might be harboring lymphoma, a
cancer of the lymphatic system, a part of the body’s built-in
defense system that, ironically, is designed to help fight diseases.
The iLogic Inreach system by Minneapolis-based
superDimension provides access to lung lesions or lymph
nodes with GPS (Global Positioning Satellite)-like electronic
navigation. In essence, it works by effectively extending the reach
of a conventional bronchoscope through the use of steerable
catheters which are guided by a 3D map of the lungs shown on a
high definition screen.
“I think this is the best technology that we have had to date to
get a tissue diagnosis of these hard to reach spots,” says Richard
H. Maley, M.D., a board-certified thoracic surgeon at St. Clair
Hospital. “As far as diagnosing, this is state-of-the-art,” he says,
noting that the system provides an answer
approximately 80 percent of the time.
The iLogic Inreachsystem enablesdoctors to accesshard-to-reachnodules orlymph nodes.
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I think this is the best technology
that we have had to date to get
a tissue diagnosis of these hard to
reach spots. As far as diagnosing,
this is state-of-the-art.”
S t . C l a i r p h y s i c i a n s a r e t h e f i r s t i n P i t t s b u r g h t o u s e t h e
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navigational system to find the lymph node right outside of the
windpipe. Once we find it, I’ll use a needle in the catheter to stick
it through the windpipe and into the lymph node and extract
some cells for biopsy.”
Using the iLogic system and a high resolution image of
Donald’s lungs and chest cavity, which earlier had been
captured by a St. Clair CT radiologist using the Hospital’s
state-of-the-art 64 Slice Computed Tomography (CT)
Scanner, Dr. Maley steers the catheter toward the lymph node.
Once he collects a sample of the lymph node, it is placed
on a sterile microscope slide and examined by a team from
the Hospital’s Pathology Department who quietly slip into the
operating room during the procedure.
Unfortunately, the lymph node biopsy showed the node
contained lung cancer cells. Donald is receiving radiation
therapy treatments at St. Clair Hospital to kill the drug-
resistant tumor.
Dr. Maley and fellow St. Clair Hospital physicians
DR. MALEY, foreground right, uses GPS-like navigation to steer a catheterthrough the lung of a patient.
For more information on the iLogic Inreach system, please contact one of
the above physicians. Contact information is available at www.stclair.org.
RICHARDH.MALEY, JR., M. D.earned his medical degree at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia and completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Kentucky, Lexington. He also completed a fellowship in Trauma/Critical Care at theUniversity of Kentucky. Dr. Maley completedhis residency in cardiothoracic surgery at theUniversity of Pittsburgh and a fellowship inthoracic surgery at Memorial Sloan-KetteringCancer Center, New York City. He isboard-certified by The American Boardof Surgery.
Mathew A. Van Deusen, M.D., Stephen G. Basheda, D.O., and
Evan R. Restelli, D.O. are the first doctors to use the iLogic Inreach
system in Pittsburgh, helping pinpoint cancer in hard-to-reach
areas of the lungs earlier in patients like Donald and others.
i L o g i c s y s t e m t o a c c e s s f a r r e a c h e s o f t h e l u n g s .
Electronic Patient Records Help St. Clairand Physicians Coordinate Care
St. Clair Hospital has teamed with GE
Healthcare and South Hills-based Preferred
Healthcare Informatics (PHI) to place the Hospital and
its physicians among the most integrated users of
electronic health records (EHR) in the region.
“The arrangement between St.Clair Hospital, GE
Healthcare and PHI is the first of its kind in the region,”
said Richard J. Schaeffer, Vice President and Chief
Information Officer, St. Clair Hospital. “The electronic
health records, available to any of the 550 physicians
with admitting privileges at St. Clair Hospital, include
all of a patient’s electronic information from all sites
of care (hospital stays, emergency department visits,
physician office visits, and eventually skilled nursing
facility data) within the St. Clair community, and
present it to a physician in a single view. Using this
technology, the patient’s health records are synthesized
across the different sites of care. This provides a
convenient and more complete picture of patients’ health
and enables physicians to make the highest quality
clinical decisions for patients.”
The collaboration further advances St. Clair Hospital’s
leading position in health care information technology.
The Hospital was among the first six hospitals in the
country to receive the Stage 6 award from HIMSS, the
leading trade association for health care information
technology, recognizing St. Clair’s early implementation
of electronic health records and other digital
safety systems.
This latest enhancement fully integrates information
from both the Hospital and physician office settings,
enabling better coordination of patient care. Schaeffer
noted that PHI is the informatics division of Preferred
Primary Care Physicians (PPCP), a 32-physician group
with17 practice locations in southwestern Pennsylvania.
PPCP was an early adopter of ambulatory EHR. Schaeffer
said PPCP’s real world experience in using electronic
health records proved invaluable in designing and
operating the new synthesized system and in helping
physicians utilize it to its fullest.
“Over the past six years, physicians with PPCP have
learned how to practice more effectively using electronic
health records,” said Dr. Louis A. Civitarese, President
of Preferred Healthcare Informatics and a practicing
physician with PPCP. “More importantly, we’ve learned
how to provide even better medical care to our
patients as a result of having this technology.”
Dr. Civitarese, who has served on the Ambulatory
and Advanced Quality Workgroups for the Certification
Committee on Health Information Technology
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Electronic health records put all patient information at the fingertipsof physicians.
E l e c t r o n i c H e a l t h R e c o r d s a r e e n a b l i n g p h y s i c i a n s a n d
DOCTORASK THE
DR. RYAN ZUZEK
Q:Can a statin neutralize the cardiovascularrisk of unhealthy dietary choices?
A: A recent article in the American Journal ofCardiology assessed the risk of eating a fast foodmeal high in fat versus the cardiovascular protectiveeffects of the popular cholesterol-lowering medicinescalled “statins.” The article proposed that the riskreduction associated with the daily consumption ofmost statins is more powerful than the increasedrisk of a heart attack caused by the daily extra fatintake associated with a 7-oz hamburger with cheeseand a small milkshake. In essence, the statin“neutralizes” the poor dietary choice.I think this article presents a novel approach to
primary prevention of heart attacks, but I haveconcerns over the message delivered. You wouldn'twant to do something bad and then do somethinggood and get a neutral result.
Statins reduce the amount of unhealthy “LDL”cholesterol in the blood and are proven to be highlyeffective in lowering a person's heart attack andstroke risk. Everybody knows that fast food is bad foryou, but people continue to eat it because it tastesgood and is convenient in today’s busy society.I want patients to maximize the good. If somebody
needs to take a statin, and they benefit from a statin,and are compliant with that statin, then they shouldtake the drug and gain the benefit. They should alsogain the benefit from a healthful diet. Why would younot want to do both?Cardiovascular preventive care should continue to
focus on lifestyle interventions, such as healthfuleating, smoking cessation, and regular exercise, withdrug therapy being added in appropriate patients.
Board-certified cardiologist Ryan W. Zuzek, M.D., earned hismedical degree at the National University of Ireland in Galway,and completed his residency at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland,Ohio and a fellowship in coronary, cardiac and peripheralintervention at the Brown University hospitals, Providence, RI.
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(CCHIT), the national organization that first began certifying
EHR technology, said EHR allows physicians to document and
view comprehensive medical histories, order diagnostic testing and
view the results, send electronic prescriptions to pharmacies, and
view electronic alerts for potentially harmful drug interactions or
allergies.
For patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, EHR
provides physicians with sophisticated “decision support” tools
based on clinical guidelines. For example, physicians can be
alerted when patients with chronic conditions are due for
medical services according to clinical guidelines.
Moreover, EHR connects members of a patient’s health care
team by allowing providers to electronically send and receive test
results and other important medical information as they consult
with each other. With the push of a button or click of a computer
mouse, EHR, empowered with the new HIE technology, puts a
patient’s most current and accurate medical information at a
physician’s fingertips within seconds, and does so in a secure
manner that protects patient confidentiality. EHR also allows
a patient to manage his or her own personal health record.
Physicians with Fatigati/Nalin Associates, which, along with
PPCP, is one of the South Hills’ largest primary care providers, are
among the first doctors to use St. Clair Hospital’s new synthesized
EHR. “My colleagues and I appreciate the benefits that this
system provides,” said Mario J. Fatigati, M.D. “In particular, the
enhancements to patient care and patient safety are what our
doctors like most about this huge leap in health care technology.”
...we’ve learned how to
provide even better medical care
to our patients as a result of
having this technology.
–Dr. Louis A. Civitarese, President of Preferred Healthcare Informaticsand a practicing physician with PPCP ”
“
t h e H o s p i t a l t o b e t t e r c o o r d i n a t e p a t i e n t c a r e .
St. Clair Hospital has opened a new Observation
Unit that is helping treat and discharge patients
in a faster, highly-focused manner.
“The Observation Unit is essentially an extension
of the Emergency Department,” explained David Kish,
Executive Director, Emergency Services and Patient
Logistics, and also Nursing Director of the 35-bed unit
for adult patients. “Each year, an estimated 6,000
patients come into the ER who require some ongoing
monitoring and
diagnostic testing
so we can determine
if they need to be
admitted to the
Hospital or can be discharged with plans for appropriate
outpatient follow up. These patients are placed in
outpatient observation status so we can initiate a
focused plan for evaluation of their situation and render
the most appropriate care.”
“Observation status is really a continuation of
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outpatient evaluation,” Dave continued. “It is a safety
net to allow a patient to be further monitored outside
of the ER. This method is better for patients in that it
helps us give them a diagnosis faster.”
Dave said many of the patients who are treated in
the ER and are then being moved to the Observation
Unit include those complaining of chest pain. Others
include patients who have asthma, or congestive heart
failure, and people suffering from dehydration or
nausea and vomiting, among other
medical issues.
Prior to the opening of the Hospital’s
new Observation Unit, patients in
observation status were housed
throughout the Hospital
in various inpatient units,
including on Nursing Unit 4B,
which underwent extensive
renovation to create the new
permanent unit.
“In the Observation Unit,
we try to get all tests done within
24 hours and then make a
determination on a patient’s
status,” Dave said.
The Observation Unit has a full-time Medical
Director, a Nursing Unit Manager and a full contingent
of Hospitalists (in-house physicians), Registered Nurses
(RNs), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and unit
secretaries, all of whom are focused on managing
observation status patients.
The unit’s new Medical Director, Dr. Terry Gilbert,
said his role is to help coordinate the physicians and
staff “to ensure that we provide the highest quality
of medical care in a system designed for patients to
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
MICHELE JOHNSON, R.N. (on phone), SUSAN McKINNIS,R.N. (center), and LISA KELLY, R.N. (partially obscured)carefully monitor patients in the unit.
DR. JAIME MULLIN examines patientLUANN BRITTON in the Observation Unit.
New Observation Unit Treating EmergencyPatients Even FASTER
S t . C l a i r ’ s n e w O b s e r v a t i o n U n i t g i v e s p a t i e n t s a f o c u s e d p l a n
Emergency Room Ranking Rises Again
St. Clair Hospital’s Emergency Room (ER) has been ranked No. 1 in the country for patient satisfaction, according to Press Ganey,
an independent national research firm. The ER had previously been ranked No. 2 nationally and No.1 across Pennsylvania.
The Hospital attributes the No. 1 ranking to an employee-led effort to redesign processes within the ER, which recently
underwent a $13.5 million expansion and renovation. In August, St. Clair opened an extension of the ER called an Observation
Unit. The 35-bed unit is designed for patients who enter the Hospital through the ER, but require further testing and monitoring
before being admitted as an inpatient or discharged within 24 hours. (Please see story on page 8. )
The new No. 1 in the U.S.A. ranking is based on random surveys that were mailed to patients treated in St. Clair Hospital’s ER last
spring and summer.
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rooms. The $5.5 million project adds 7,429 square feet
featuring spacious rooms, high-definition monitors mounted
to the ceiling, in-suite imaging capabilities that provide
immediate access to medical records and images, and the
most advanced minimally invasive surgical tools, all conveniently
located within the surgeons’ reach. The addition of the three
operating rooms gives the Hospital a total of 13 surgical
suites which are equipped to handle minimally invasive
surgical procedures and designed to address future
technological advances.
“The opening of St. Clair’s new surgical suites effectively
addresses the Hospital’s increase in the number of surgical
procedures it performs,” says Diane Puccetti, R.N., who
New Operating RoomsCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
manages the Hospital’s operating rooms. “Most importantly,
the additional space and new technology allow St. Clair’s sur-
geons to conduct highly complex surgeries.”
ANTONIO J. RIPEPI, M.D.is board certified in generalsurgery. He earned his medicaldegree at Jefferson MedicalCollege in Philadelphia andcompleted his residency atthe Case Western ReserveUniversity Integrated SurgicalProgram in Cleveland as wellas a fellowship at the ClevelandClinic Hospital.
f o r t h e i r e v a l u a t i o n w h i l e a d m i s s i o n s d e c i s i o n s a r e m a d e .
ST. CLAIR LIFELINE ALERT PROGRAM
The St. Clair Hospital
Lifeline program
has been giving area
seniors peace of mind
for more than 20 years
by providing them access
to help in a medical
emergency with the
simple push of a button,
24 hours a day, 365 days
a year.
for help when a subscriber falls. It’s an added layer of
protection.” Kathy added that the medical alert
pendants with AutoAlert are lightweight, waterproof
and easy to wear. They are also equipped with an
“intelligent alarm” that allows seniors who have fallen
but are able to get up within 30 seconds to avoid
sending an alert. “We believe St. Clair Hospital Lifeline
pendants with AutoAlert provide a much higher sense
of safety and security to individuals who are maintaining
their independence in the comfort of their own homes,”
Kathy said. It is estimated that about half of older
adults who fall cannot get back up without help.
Other benefits of the St. Clair Hospital Lifeline
Program include local service representatives, no
long term contracts, a cost that is equivalent to about
“a cup of coffee a day,” and close working relationships
with local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) crews.
“We want to provide individuals in our community
safety, security and independent living in their
homes,” Kathy said.
Now, St. Clair has strengthened its relationship
with Philips Lifeline, the leading provider of medical
alert services, a move that has expanded the Hospital’s
services to current and future subscribers.
“Sometimes when a subscriber falls, he or she may
forget to push the button or may be unable to push
the button on the medical alert pendant,” said
Kathy Scarpaci, St. Clair Hospital Lifeline Program
Coordinator. “St. Clair Hospital Lifeline now offers a
pendant with an AutoAlert that automatically callsFor more information, or to order service, please call
Kathy Scarpaci at 412.942.2080.
be evaluated and cared for in the most efficient and
timely manner.”
Patients and family members are kept updated at
all times. “A case manager starts that conversation
while a patient is still in the ER,” Dave explained.
“They are letting patients know they are not being
admitted, but are being observed, tested and if
necessary, treated.” Patients are also issued
a printed handout that details their outpatient
observation status.
New Observation UnitCONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
10
DR. JAIME MULLIN references the patient status board in theObservation Unit as she explains how patient LUANN BRITTONwas discharged from the unit following 19 hours in observation.
N e w A u t o A l e r t f o r L i f e l i n e p r o v i d e s q u i c k e r a c c e s s
11
Minimally Invasive Surgery CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
focusing exclusively on the adrenal glands.
But before Mr. Khor received that CT scan, he developed a
cold and visited an urgent care center for treatment. There, his
blood pressure reached dangerous levels and, fearing that he
could suffer a stroke, he was sent to
St. Clair’s Emergency Department and later
moved to a nursing unit at the Hospital.
During Mr. Khor’s three-day stay in the
Hospital, Dr. Xie ordered the CT scan
focused on the adrenal glands. The CT scan
showed a nodule located in the right adrenal
gland. To further explore and determine
the cause of Mr. Khor’s symptoms, St. Clair
board-certified endocrinologist Bridget
Beier, M.D., wanted him to have a venous
sampling, a procedure in which a small
catheter is inserted into a vein and a
sample of blood is checked for specific
substances.
From the venous sampling report, Dr. Beier determined that,
indeed, Mr. Khor’s right adrenal gland was producing an excessive
amount of aldosterone. He was given two options: take a combination
of several different medications for the remainder of his life to
block the extra secretions–controlling both his blood pressure and
potassium levels–or have the right adrenal gland removed surgically.
“ I’d never had surgery in my life, so I was very cautious,”
Mr. Khor says. “But I was still young and knew that I didn’t want
to be on so many medications for the rest of my life, either.”
He contacted a local tertiary care facility to schedule the
surgery and was frustrated by the outcome.
“My call was transferred numerous times and I wasn’t getting
anywhere,” he remembers. “There was
just no response from anyone. Later, I
learned that there wasn’t even a
physician there who specialized in
treating my condition.”
Dr. Beier recommended that Mr. Khor
speak to Antonio J. Ripepi, M.D., a board-
certified general surgeon at St. Clair who
is an expert in adrenal gland surgery.
After talking with him, Mr. Khor’s
decision was made.
“I was very impressed with Dr. Ripepi
and he immediately put me at ease,”
he says. “I couldn’t believe that this
type of surgery could be done in a minimally invasive manner,
at a hospital right in my backyard.”
During laparoscopic surgery, in which Dr. Ripepi passed a
flexible fiberoptic instrument through a tiny incision, a small
nodule was successfully removed from Mr. Khor’s right adrenal
gland. Since the procedure could be performed utilizing a
minimally invasive approach, he was able to be discharged
from St. Clair the following day, with little to no discomfort.
Today, the only reminders of his experience are four tiny scars.
Mr. Khor’s blood pressure and potassium levels are in the normal
range now, and he no longer feels tired or shaky – symptoms he
now knows were symptoms of Conn’s syndrome. “I received personal
care that was coordinated by an entire team of specialists, which made
me feel completely at ease,” he says. “I didn’t know St. Clair
Hospital performed this type of surgery. I’m very impressed
that I was able to receive such quality medical care at St. Clair.”
I’d never hadsurgery in my life,
so I was very cautious...I was very impressed
with Dr. Ripepiand he immediatelyput me at ease.”
“
–Eng Hui Khor of Upper St. Clair
Minimally invasive surgery patient, ENG HUI KHOR
t o p a t i e n t s f o r b e s t o u t c o m e s a f t e r a f a l l .
ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL1000 Bower Hill RoadPittsburgh, PA 15243
ST. CLAIR HOSPITALGeneral & Patient Information 412.942.4000
Physician Referral Service 412.942.6560
Outpatient Center—Village Square 412.942.7100
Medical Imaging Scheduling 412.942.8150
www.stclair.org
Follow us on twitter at: www.twitter.com/stclairhospital
HouseCall is a publication of St. Clair Hospital. Articles are for
informational purposes and are not intended to serve as medical advice.
Please consult your personal physician.
VOLUME II, ISSUE 2
HCOMMUNITY OUTREACAs part of its ongoing commitment to the community, St. Clair Hospital is partnering with areacommunity organizations. The Hospital will highlight the good works of these non-profit partnersin HouseCall. In this issue we feature South Hills Interfaith Ministries.
South Hills Interfaith Ministries (SHIM), a non-profit social service agency, meets emergency needs of individuals and families
struggling to make ends meet in the South Hills by providing food, clothing and assistance with utility bills, all the while providing
support for the individuals and families to attain long term self-sufficiency. SHIM serves as a bridge for those individuals and families
who fall upon difficult times. In addition to assisting those experiencing suburban poverty, SHIM assists a large and growing refugee
population residing in the South Hills with emergency assistance and educational efforts for the children. Due to the ongoing impact
of the recession, SHIM has seen demand for its services grow
significantly and is in need of nonperishable food items and funds.
To learn more about SHIM, volunteer or donate, please visit
www.shim-center.org or phone 412.854.9120.
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