HJBR Nov/Dec 2020

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  NOV / DEC 2020 33 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com company is employee-owned and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. Cardiovascular Institute of the South is First in Baton Rouge to Use Right and Left Impella Technology Niksad Abraham, MD, interventional cardiolo- gist at Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS), is the first in Baton Rouge to conduct a left- and right-sided heart procedure using Impella CP® and Impella RP, the world’s smallest heart pump. The procedure took place on Sept. 17 at Baton Rouge General Medical Center. The Impella devices are designed to pro- vide minimally-invasive, temporary support for patients with heart failure during a high-risk cor- onary intervention. Impella is placed into the heart through a peripheral artery and supports the heart’s circulatory system during the proce- dure. This device works for the heart, allowing it to rest and recover while doctors place stents in the patient’s arteries to unblock them and increase blood flow. It is also approved to treat cardiogenic shock, when the heart fails to pump enough blood to vital organs, typically during or after a heart attack. “This technology provides a new treatment option for patients with advanced coronary dis- ease who may have been turned down for heart surgery or whose hearts are too weak to pump on their own after a heart attack,” explained Abraham. “It allows a patient’s heart to rest and recover during the procedure, ultimately leading to better outcomes and improved quality of life.” NewPhysician Joins LSU– Our Lady of the Lake Head and Neck Center The LSU–Our Lady of the Lake Head and Neck Center welcomed Andrew Fuson, MD, to its team of otolaryngologists who are trained in medi- cal and surgical management and treatment of patients with diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. A native of Baton Rouge, Fuson received a medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. He com- pleted a residency in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sci- ences in Washington, DC, and a fellowship in head and neck oncology at the University of Ala- bama at Birmingham. Fuson is board-certified in otolaryngology head and neck surgery and is a member of the American Head and Neck Society. Located at 4950 Essen Lane, Suite 400, LSU– Our Lady of the Lake Head and Neck Center, also affiliated with the Mary Bird Perkins-Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center, treats benign and malig- nant tumors, infectious diseases, deformities, and facial trauma. The center specializes in a variety of services including head and neck cancer, surgical oncology, complex sinus surgery, thyroid surgery, rehabilitation, and more. Baton Rouge Health District to Launch $1.2Million Regional Innovation Programwith Federal Economic Development Administration Grant Award The Baton Rouge Health District recently received its first federal grant award, funded by the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Venture Challenge - Build to Scale Pro- gram. This new award will establish a $1.2 million Niksad Abraham, MD, interventional cardiologist at Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS), is the first in Baton Rouge to conduct a left- and right-sided heart procedure using Impella CP and Impella RP, the world’s smallest heart pump.