The Heart Institute of East Texas

11/14/2025

Patients who once faced life-threatening heart failure returned to St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Thursday afternoon to thank the physicians, nurses and technicians who helped them survive, and to celebrate second chances made possible by advanced cardiac technology. (Story and photos by RUBEN IBARRA JR./The Lufkin Daily News)

https://lufkindailynews.com/news/local/heart-surgery-survivors-reunite-with-care-team-at-st-lukes-health-memorial/article_aef70157-d549-5529-970e-4847ce37822c.html

11/11/2025

The Heart Institute of East Texas proudly salutes all the veterans and active-duty military members who have served our nation.

Your sacrifice, courage, and dedication have secured the freedoms we cherish. We are eternally grateful for your service, both in protecting our country and in enriching our East Texas community.

Especially to the veterans who are part of our healthcare team and those we are privileged to care for: Thank you for your service and for your strength!

11/10/2025

Excited to share our Heart Institute of East Texas Tree for Festival of Trees at Museum of East Texas

11/07/2025

From the Physicians of the Heart Institute of East Texas.n

10/10/2025

The Heart Institue or East Texas announces a significant advancement in cardiovascular care, becoming the first and only hospital in Deep East Texas to successfully perform a percutaneous closure of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) using the innovative Abbott Amplatzer PFO Occluder. The groundbreaking procedure was led by main proceduralist Dr. Subramanya Venkata, with a team including Dr. Ilyas Khan, Dr. Harshil Patel, and Cath Lab Director Dr. Musa Khan.

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a small hole in the heart's septum that can allow blood clots to pass from the right side of the heart to the left, where they can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. This new, minimally invasive procedure provides a permanent solution by guiding a small, self-expanding device through a catheter to the heart to effectively seal the hole. This offers a much-needed local alternative for patients who previously had to travel hundreds of miles for this critical treatment.

Dr. Subramanya Venkata, the main proceduralist, spoke about the clinical significance. "The Abbott Amplatzer device is a remarkable technology that allows us to safely and effectively treat PFOs and reduce the risk of recurrent strokes," Dr. Venkata stated. "I am incredibly proud to have been part of the team that brought this capability to our community. This is a huge win for our patients and their families."

Dr. Harshil Patel, interventional cardiologist also a vital member of the team, added, "Our collaborative effort and dedication were crucial to the success of this procedure. We are thrilled to be at the forefront of structural heart interventions, bringing cutting-edge advancements directly to the people of Lufkin."

Dr. Ilyas Khan, a key cardiologist on the team, highlighted the patient benefits. "We can now address a common cause of stroke with a less invasive approach, offering peace of mind and a significantly improved quality of life," Dr. Khan said. "This is a game-changer for how we manage and prevent strokes in our region."

"This is more than just a new procedure; it's a new era of heart health for our community," said Dr. Ravinder Bachireddy, Chief of Cardiology. "Bringing this advanced PFO closure to St. Luke's Health-Memorial is a testament to our commitment to providing the highest level of care to our patients. It means our community members no longer have to leave their homes and families to receive a life-saving treatment, and that is a true win for all of Deep East Texas."

Dr. Musa Khan, the Cath Lab Director, emphasized the hospital’s readiness. "Our cath lab team has undergone rigorous training to master this complex procedure," Dr. Khan said. "This capability elevates our cardiac services and reinforces our role as a regional leader. We are ready to provide world-class heart care right here at home."


A Benefit to the Community
This new procedure provides a significant benefit to the community by offering a local solution for a critical health issue. Patients who would have previously had to travel to major metropolitan areas for this procedure can now receive state-of-the-art care right here in Deep East Texas. This not only eases the financial and logistical burden on patients and their families but also ensures timely access to care, which can be crucial in preventing strokes. St. Luke's Health-Memorial's commitment to providing this service highlights its ongoing mission to improve the health and well-being of the Deep East Texas population through innovative and compassionate care.

09/25/2025

Heart Institute of East texas- proud to support the Junior league of Lufkin - Little black Dress fundraiser

09/18/2025

A big win for Deep East Texas! 🎉
We're proud to share that St. Luke’s Health Memorial-Lufkin has been named the #1 LAAO Center out of 104 hospitals in the entire CommonSpirit Health system. This prestigious designation recognizes our Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion (LAAO) program and our dedicated team for providing world-class heart care.
Our skilled physicians—Dr. Subramanya G. Venkata, Dr. Ilyas Khan, and Dr. Yugandhar Manda—and the entire cardiovascular team have performed over 300 WATCHMAN device implant procedures to help prevent strokes in patients with Afib, offering a safe and effective alternative to long-term blood thinners.
Dr. Venkata shared, "This recognition is proof that our community has access to world-class heart care without ever having to leave home."
We are committed to delivering the highest standard of care to our community. Thank you for trusting us with your heart health!

09/04/2025

We appreciate our 💛 Yellow Hands partner, The Heart Institute of East Texas! 📚💛✏️
Thank you for helping make Back to School Bonanza a success for our students!

07/19/2025