M. Denton Stam

Cardiothoracic Surgeon

1001 Towson Ave Fort Smith Arkansas, 72901 Show map

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About

M. Denton Stam, MD, MBA, FACS, maintains a position as a Thoracic Surgeon with Sparks Regional Medical Center, located in Fort Smith, Arkansas. As a Thoracic Surgeon, Dr. Stam performs procedures on the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest. In practice for nineteen years, Dr. Stam received his degree from New York Medical College. He also completed post-graduate training at Baylor College of Medicine, and a fellowship with Hahnemann University Hospital. To remain current in his field, Dr. Stam is an active member of American Medical Association, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, International College of Surgeons, and American Chemical Society. He attributes his years of success to unending hard work, a passion for learning, and continued flexibility in his career.

M. Denton Stam's Videos

Education and Training

New York Medical College

Board Certification

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Provider Details

Male English, Spanish 37 years of experience

M. Denton Stam

M. Denton Stam's Expert Contributions

My Answers

Can you fly after a heart transplant?
Absolutely READ MORE
How long are you in hospital after a heart transplant?
About a week or so READ MORE
What is a good heart rate for my age?
60-80 at rest. READ MORE
How long are you asleep after open heart surgery?
2 to 4 hours on average, but depends on how you metabolize (wear off) medicines in general. READ MORE
Does part of your heart die after a heart attack?
Yes, but usually a small part. Like car damage - can be a fender bender, a scratch, or totaled. Measured by Troponin in the blood test. READ MORE
What type of anesthesia is used for heart surgery?
General anesthesia. Completely asleep READ MORE
What is the main cause of coronary artery disease?
Cigarette smoking. READ MORE
Are you awake during ICD surgery?
Not totally asleep, but sedated with no memory of the event in most cases. Check with your cardiologist. READ MORE
Why do dental procedures cause endocarditis?
They can if you have a valve issue to start with. If you have a murmur, get it checked out first. In general, though, in healthy people, no worries. READ MORE
Can you have a heart attack with a normal heart rate?
Yes. Heart rate is like listening to the car engine idling. If you smoke, have a family history of heart disease, elevated cholesterol, have diabetes or high blood pressure, or overweight/sedentary lifestyle you can get narrowing off the arteries. Initially you may feel nothing, and blockages can get as high as 70% before you get symptoms. Of you have any of these, seek advice from your doctor. Adjusting any of these can give years to your heart. READ MORE
Can you recover from congestive heart failure?
Yes, but strict sodium and fluid intake is necessary plus medicines. It can recur if not monitored closely by a doctor. READ MORE
What causes breathing problems after open heart surgery?
Extra fluid you get during surgery leaks into the lungs. The fluid is necessary for your blood pressure at the time, but the body must remove it- urine must increase. That is why we give more medicine to make the patient pee after surgery. READ MORE
When should you go to the ER for tachycardia?
Heart rate over 120 and lightheaded/ dizzy. READ MORE
What causes bradycardia?
Athletes well-conditioned can be slow, which is normal. Less than 50 in most is too slow. Lots of causes. Medications like metoprolol can do that, and others. Some over-the-counter pills can cause it. Hard to cover everything without a doctor visit and full history and physical. I would get checked out if you are slower than 50. READ MORE
What side effects should I report after heart valve surgery?
There are no side effects of valves. But a side effect of surgery is tiredness from blood loss anemia and having to burn protein to heal your wounds. Beta blockers used to help blood pressure and allow you to live longer after heart surgery will also make you fatigued. Metoprolol is one. READ MORE
Is heart valve replacement surgery safe?
Likely yes. Depends on your heart function before surgery. If your EF (election fraction) is normal (55%+), you should have minimal problems, but that also depends on your other medical issues. Obesity, diabetes, kidney problems, and smoking among others will increase your risks. If you smoke, be off cigarettes at least 48 hours before and you cut your risks by 50%. Good luck. READ MORE
Do people recovering from heart surgery cough often?
First of all, angioplasty is not really surgery. Most likely a cough is due to a medicine class called an ACE inhibitor. This is a blood pressure pill most commonly called lisinopril. Other similar medicines end in "-pril," like ramipril or captopril. Ask his doctor if he is taking this type of pill. READ MORE
My 4 year old son recently has an irregular heartbeat. Would he need a transplant in the future?
That is a hard question to answer. It depends on what the underlying cause is. I would have to know that to give a reasonable reply. Most transplants are well tolerated with long-term survival, but require very strict medication reliability. Rejection of a new heart is rarely fatal and can be treated by medicines. Matching a new heart well up front is critical. Good luck, Dr. Stam READ MORE
What is the difference between a cardiologist and cardiothoracic surgeon?
Cardiologists manage and control heart disease. They prescribe medicine and order tests to evaluate the patient. Some, called interventional cardiologists, actually do cardiac catheterizations by going into the arteries and using dye to visualize the arteries around the heart. If narrowed they can "balloon" them open or place a "stent" to prop open the artery. In some cases, they refer the patient to a surgeon. This is the cardiothoracic surgeon. They actually cut open the chest to do cardiac bypass surgery. They then manage the patient until out of the hospital, at which time the cardiologist takes back over long-term management. READ MORE
What could be the reason for low hemoglobin after a bypass surgery?
Blood loss. Most people lose about 4 points. Increase iron consumption. Lean red meat 4 oz is absorbed best- 24%. Do once or twice over a week. Spinach or broccoli both only 4% unless you eat protein or vitamin C- goes to 7% then. Either way, get a vitamin supplement. READ MORE