In this weeks LMC medical update, we wrap up our series on heart health by introducing you to part of the team that works so hard to save lives.
This team of cardiac care professionals has decades of combined experience, as well as Laredo’s only open-heart surgeon.
Dr. Arthur Santos says when he saw the first ever heart transplant, he knew he would be a heart surgeon.
"I saw that and I thought... I've got to do that... that looks really neat!"
He and his team have performed thousands of surgeries, and says each one is different.
"Here in total we've done about 32-hundred hearts, a little over 3-thousand hearts... so it's been exciting, it's been interesting, and it's been challenging."
He says advancements in technology have changed the way heart surgery is performed over the years.
"The transit soft gel acro-cardiology has allowed us to look at the heart motion literally while we're operating and that gives us the opportunity to see if there's problems with the way it's contracting. And if we can improve those problems clearly, that's a benefit to the patient."
Despite the amazing technology, he says it's not possible without his team.
" I'm legless and arm less without a great team."
"We spend a lot of hours here together, so we consider ourselves brothers and sisters."
Surgical tech, Daniel Montante, says he's amazed with what he encounters on a daily basis.
"It always surprises me because you're dealing with the human heart, and that alone is just... I can't really explain it... but it's just amazing."
Jesus Hinojosa agrees, saying every day in the operation room brings new challenges.
"You never know what's gonna happen, so you have to be a step ahead of the doctor."
Doctor Santos adds, having such a great team in Laredo keeps families from having to travel out of town.
“If you have to travel to get your care, it's a bit of an inconvenience for the family and I think us being able to be here, it boils down to Laredoans helping Laredoans."
Which is why Doctor Santos says after 17 years, the heart program is still going strong at LMC.
"Good doctors treat the disease, great doctors treat the patient, and so I think that's what we're doing here in Laredo, we're actually able to treat the patient directly in their environment with their families... with their comfort level... and I think that's a benefit to them."
For more information on this medical update, you can call 796- 3223.