THE TIMES, MARCH 22, 2018 PAGE 8
limitations
By PROF. RANDOLPH HOWES M.D PhD
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Longtime medical columnist for The Times, the author is
an accomplished surgeon, medical inventor, and Country music recording artist.
Dr. Howes grew up on his parents' Ponchatoula strawberry farm. He is a gradu-
ate of St. Joseph, Ponchatoula High School, Southeastern, Tulane - two doctorates,
followed by a residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in plastic surgery. He says
he is "retired" now in Kentwood. The docto s column appears on facebook.com]the-
ponchatoulatimes and on facebook.com/theindependencetimes. It is also available
online at ponchatoula.condptimes)
Some patients may have placed a little false hope in long-
term heart bypass surgery.
In 2010, experts found,
"The bypass operation did not
improve survival for heart
failure patients who already
were taking medicines to con-
trol risks like high cholesterol
and high blood pressure."
Doctors assumed bypass
would cut deaths by 25 per-
cent. But after nearly five
years, the study of 1,200 heart
failure patients showed that
about the same number in
each group had died. Actually,
for the first two years, there
were more deaths among
those given surgery versus
the others.
In addition to the new
knowledge about a"special pe-
riod of attention" 8-10 years
after the bypass surgery, the
first month is particularly
critical. Within the first 30
days after bypass surgery, pa-
tients have an increased risk
of dying in connection with the
operation, which is not in it.
self new. The survival rate for
bypass patients who make it
through the first month after
the operation is close to that
of the population in general.
But, 8-10 years after a
heart bypass operation, mor-
tality increases by 60-80 per
cent. This is new and impor-
tant knowledge for the doctors
who monitor these patients.
This is the main conclusion
in 2017 of a comprehensive
national register-based study
that sheds light on the 30 year
prognosis following a heart
bypass operation, on 51,000
Danish patients who had un-
dergone surgery in the period
1980 - 2009.
Dr. Kasper Adelborg was
mm the primary author of the pub-
w lication, "Thirty-Year Mor-
tality After Coronary Artery
Bypass Graft Surgery. A Dan-
ish Nationwide Population-
Based Cohort Study," which
was published in the journal
Circulation'. Cardiovascular
Quality and Outcomes.
Dr. Howes
Adelbor~s study showed
that ten-year-survivors have
an increased mortality when
compared with the general
population. This may be due
to the fact that the disease is
progressive and that the ath-
erosclerosis or hardening of
the arteries increases, or that
the implanted material begins
to fail. There will naturally
be differences in the progno-
sis from patient to patient.
So, the clinicians who are
in contact with the patients
should therefore assess their
prognosis individually - and
there are special reasons to do
this after the initial eight-ten
years, as we now know that
'something happens.
Adelborg said, "It is well-
known that there are risks
associated with a complicated
operation in the heart, but
fortunately mortality in con-
nection with the surgery itself
is quite low. What is new is
that we have precise figures
for the prognosis, including
the long-term prognosis for
patients who have undergone
bypass surgery."
In the America that I love,
we must be aware of the long-
term benefits or limitations of
major cardiac surgical proce-
dures, like heart bypass sur.
gory.
What to know about
your drinking water
StatePoint
Having clean, uncontaminated water to drink at
home and on-the-go is one of the most essential compo-
nents to keeping your family safe and healthy.
Unfortunately, safe
water is not necessarily a
given. A recent study, pub-
lished by the Proceedings
of the National Academy
of Sciences, found that in
2015, nearly 21 million
people relied on communi-
ty water systems that vio-
lated health-based qual-
ity standards. WhatfigTMs
more, the risks to your tap
water are heightened dur-
ing special circumstances
like natural disasters and
other emergencies.
To help ensure you are
hydrating healthfully all
the time -- at home, in
your community, on trips
or in emergencies consid-
er investing in an easy-to-
maintain water filtration
device that can be used
anywhere in order to im-
prove water quality.
One example is
LifeStraw, first intro-
duced for people in devel-
oping countries without
access to safe water and
for victims following nat-
ural disasters. The com-
pany now makes a range
of water filters and puri-
fiers designed for uses like
emergency preparedness,
outdoor recreation, travel
and everyday hydration.
The refillable LifeStraw
Go 2-Stage water bottle
features a built-in filter,
and removes 99.9999 per-
cent of waterborne bacte-
ria (including E. coli and
salmonella), 99.999 per-
cent of protozoa while also
reducing chlorine organic
chemical matter and bad
taste. Suitable for kids,
the LifeStraw Play model,
a 10-oz water bottle de-
signed for everyday use,
incorporates the same
technology with a sturdy
kid-friendly leak-proof
design. LifeStraw is avail-
able online and at your lo-
cal Walmart, Target and
Sam's Club.
What's great is this is
also a company that gives
back -- for every LifeStraw
product purchased, a
school child in a commu-
nity in need receives safe
water for an entire school
year. So far, the program
has supported more than
one million school chil-
dren.
Keep in mind that ac-
cess to clean water is a
persistent and global is-
sue. By 2050, at least one
in four people is likely to
live in a country affected
by chronic or recurring
shortages of fresh water,
according to the United
Nations. This highlights
the growing need to take
precautions both at home
and when you travel, and
to invest in products that
give back.
To do everything you
can to keep your family
healthy and safe, start by
taking steps to improve
the water you drink.
THE TERRY ANN McMAHON
MEMORIAL LABYRINTH
AT ROSARYVILLE
Labyrinths have existed for over
2,000 years. Be a part of this
addition to our community by
donating to help build the
Terry Ann McMahon Memorial
Labyrinth.
This labyrinth path will be stained
green on a 60'X60' concrete slab
requiring little upkeep.
Open to the public at no charge.
A great attraction for Rosaryville
and Tangipahoa Parish.
Send your donation or stop by
Rosaryville's gift shop for some
labyrinth charm jewelry.
Attn: Labyrinth Fund
39003 Rosaryville Rd.
Ponchatoula, LA 70454
The Krewe of Erin began the
project in honor of Terry Ann
McMahon, co-founder of the
Krewe of Erin and greatly missed
community advocate.
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