St. Vincent's Medical Center Dr. Promoted; Bpt. Hospital News

St. Vincent's Medical Center's Dr. Joseph John Tiano, MD, has been appointed Medical Director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology (EP) Laboratory at St. Vincent’s Medical Center. Dr. Tiano is an electrophysiologist specializing in non-surgical electrophysiology procedures to correct cardiac arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms.  In his new role as director, he will be responsible for ensuring that the highest standards are met regarding patient safety and outcomes in the electrophysiology laboratory.

On active staff at St. Vincent’s since 2010, Dr. Tiano brings to his new position expertise in performing the latest minimally invasive electrophysiology procedures such as trans-catheter ablation to correct a common arrhythmia known as atrial fibrillation (A- fib). Since joining St. Vincent’s, he has played a key role in the development of a comprehensive arrhythmia service at St. Vincent’s focusing on an innovative new treatment called “hybrid ablation” to correct A- fib.  This treatment combines both surgical and non-surgical techniques to correct complex cases of  A-fib.

Dr. Tiano has recently joined the practice of Cardiology Physicians of Fairfield County, LLC, with offices in Fairfield, Trumbull, Norwalk and Stamford.

He was also recently appointed an assistant professor of cardiology at the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, and serves on a national advisory committee for Ascension Health, the parent organization for St. Vincent’s.

After graduating magna cum laude with a degree in biology and government from Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania, Dr. Tiano earned his medical degree with honors from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia in 2003, where he won the Cardiology Award. He performed his internal medicine internship and residency at New York Presbyterian/New York Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Tiano went on to complete fellowships in both cardiovascular medicine and electrophysiology both at Boston Medical Center, where he was awarded the Cardiovascular Fellowship Teaching Award.

He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular medicine and electrophysiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Tiano has conducted both clinical and basic research in numerous cardiology topics and has been published in medical journals.

He is a member of a number of professional organizations including the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and the Heart Rhythm Society.

Tiano is married with a son and resides in Fairfield.

State of-the-art imaging system provides safer,

more precise spinal surgery at Bridgeport Hospital

Patients with spinal injuries are receiving safer, more precise surgical treatment, thanks to the new O-arm/Stealth Station Navigation system at Bridgeport Hospital, one of the first hospitals in Connecticut to use the state-of-the-art imaging system.

The system is a major advancement over previous technology in that it provides real-time 3D images of the surgical site—including surgical instruments—as procedures are taking place. As the name suggests, the donut-shaped O-arm can rotate around the patient, providing images from many angles. Computer-assisted surgery ensures safety and accuracy by:

• guiding surgeons through the safest route to the surgical site
• giving surgeons a broader, multi-angle view of the site and
• confirming the placement of instruments and hardware (such as pedicle screws in the spine) during surgery in real time

The system can also take images from traditional sources such as X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and ultrasounds and transform them into 3D images to use with the real-time guidance images taken in the operating room during the procedure.

After falling and injuring himself, Joseph Camillo of Milford had four fractures in his neck repaired by Bridgeport Hospital Chief of Neurosurgery Kenneth Lipow, MD, in July, using the O-arm system. The injury left Camillo without the ability to move his head, right arm, right leg and both hands.

“This was a potentially fatal injury,” Dr. Lipow explains. “The location of the uppermost fractures was very close to the arteries that feed the brain stem. Repairing the fractures without the precision guidance of the O-arm/Stealth Station would’ve been nearly impossible and extremely risky.”

Fortunately for Camillo, the surgical procedure was successful. It saved his life and he began physical therapy with improved ability to move his head, right arm, right leg and both hands.

Chantel DiJulio of Trumbull picked up a bag of wood chips in her yard and woke up the next day in “excruciating” pain. An MRI revealed multiple herniations (bulges) in her spinal discs and severe narrowing of the spinal canal. 

“Even slight movement while doing everyday tasks caused extreme pain,” DiJulio says.

Guided by the O-arm/Stealth Station system, orthopedic spinal surgeon John Awad, MD, performed a new type of less invasive spinal procedure to address her symptoms.

“The sophisticated guidance capabilities of the O-arm/Stealth Station system help us perform spinal surgeries with greater precision than ever before,” says Dr. Awad. “Not only are the procedures safer for the patient, we now have the ability to do less invasive procedures, which minimizes post-operative pain and increases the rate of recovery.

“There’s been great improvement since my surgery and I continue to feel better every day,” says DiJulio, whose treatment is continuing with physical therapy.

For more information about, or a referral to, a Bridgeport Hospital-affiliated neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon, call 1-888-357-2396.