Very cool heart surgery. Heart surgeons call it “The Big Chill.” It is a novel surgical approach called deep hypothermia circulatory arrest (DHCA). The procedure entails lowering body temperature to a chilly 50 degrees, thus protecting the nervous system and kidneys, so surgeons have more time to make delicate repairs. Cardiothoracic surgeon John Fehrenbacher, M.D., Ph.D., helped develop the technique and is one of the few surgeons in the world to practice it. Dr. Fehrenbacher directs the Cardiovascular Thoracic Aortic Surgery Program at IU Health in Indianapolis.
New tools for emergency medical teams. Patients in the midst of a heart attack are benefiting from two new tools used by emergency medical teams: the ResQ Pod and the ResQ Pump. IU School of Medicine emergency medicine researcher Michael Olinger, M.D., helped field-test the devices, which were found to work better than traditional CPR. Dr. Olinger, who is professor of clinical emergency medicine and medical director for Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services and the Indianapolis Fire Department, will explain how the devices work.
Cycling safety. Sound Medicine’s Steve Bogdewic, M.D., an avid cyclist, will sit down with fellow cyclist and author Daniel Lee to discuss how professional cyclists can avoid the pitfalls of injury and the temptations of doping. Lee’s book, The Belgian Hammer: Forging Young Americans into Professional Cyclists, will be available in May.
Sports concussion resource. An online course titled “Concussion in Sports — What You Need to Know,” is offered by the Indianapolis-based National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). It is available free to high school coaches, parents and players. Concussion expert Mick Koester, M.D., hosts the course and will discuss it with Sound Medicine’s Barbara Lewis. Dr. Koester is chair of the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and director of the Sports Concussion Program at the Slocum Center for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at the University in Oregon.
Slow down, you chew too fast. Nutritionist and essayist Alix Litwak will explain why eating slowly is good for your health.
Sound Medicine is an award-winning radio program co-produced by the Indiana University School of Medicine and WFYI Public Radio (90.1FM). Sound Medicine is underwritten by Indiana University Health, Indiana University Health Physicians, and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Reports on Primary Health Care topics are sponsored by Wishard Health Services.
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