Covenant Heart Institute

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Welcome to Covenant Heart Institute

Covenant Heart Institute (CHI) has an impressive history of being the cardiac services leader for the West Texas / Eastern New Mexico region. In fact, Covenant Medical Center opened one of the first cardiac care units in Texas in 1965 and was the site of many regional firsts: the first cardiac angiogram in 1968, the first open-heart surgery in 1970,the first heart transplant in 1991, the first endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in 2001, and in 2003 the first drug coated stent.

In 1995, Covenant Heart Institute was the first comprehensive heart care center dedicated to digital cardiac imaging in the United States. This high-tech capability means less waiting time between tests, results and necessary appropriate treatments.

Our cardiac catheterization labs were recognized for their innovative technology by being included in the Smithsonian Institution's Permanent Research Collection on Information Technology Innovation at the National Museum of American History.


	Heart Failure affects nearly 5 million Americans. Roughly 500,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure each year. It is the leading cause of hospitalization for people older than 65. It is the only major cardiovascular condition that continues to increase in occurrence in the United States today. Heart failure does not mean the heart stops. Heart failure is a progressive condition in which the heart muscle becomes weaker and gradually loses the ability to pump enough blood to supply the body’s needs. There are as many causes of heart failure as there are causes of heart disease, kidney disease, and lung disease. Any disease that eventually causes the heart muscle to work harder, or over-stretch and become “flabby” will decrease its ability to pump out all of the blood that is fed into it. When this happens (beat after beat after beat), fluid begins to back up. As a result the kidneys often respond by causing the body to retain fluid (water) and sodium (salt). Blood, water, and other fluids build up in tissues, veins, and organs, causing congestion and damage. For more information on Heart Failure and its treatment at Covenant, please click here.


	daVinci Robotic Surgery Covenant Heart Institute will soon be using robotic surgery technology for various cardiac procedures. Cardiac surgeons at CHI will be among the first in West Texas to use robotic technology laparoscopically to assist in the operating room. The daVinci Surgical System is used for cardiac-related surgery, such as: Atrial Septal Defect closures Certain types of coronary artery surgery Mitral Valve replacement and repair These procedures are done laparoscopically, eliminating the need for large incisions. The leading-edge technology consists of a robotic arm that performs surgeries using movements to replicate a surgeon's motions. The movements are controlled from acoss the room by a surgeon using virtual images provided by laparoscopic cameras. The benefits of the technology have a significant impact on patients and their outcomes. Because the cases are done laparoscopically, significantly smaller incisions are made that result in faster recovery time and a lower chance of infection or other complications. The procedures themselves can be even more accurate than traditional surgery, with steadier "hands" at the surgical site being directed by a surgeon.

Features

Download the brochure for November 15, 2008 Fall Symposium "Optimizing Treatment of Atherosclerosis: A Personalized Approach to Disease Identification and Treatment"

Download the "The Bale/Doneen Method" Preceptorship Brochure


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