New Level I
Interventional Cardiology Services
Cardiac Cath Team Delivers Comprehensive Care
Time is never more precious than in the minutes following a heart attack. As soon as a blood clot blocks one of the arteries supplying blood flow to the heart, the heart muscle begins to die. The faster the artery is unblocked -- using a procedure called angioplasty -- the better the chance that the patient will not only survive, but also recover with most of the heart muscle intact.
Lifesaving treatments for cardiac conditions are now available right in your neighborhood. The Cardiac Cath Lab at Wellington Regional has received state licensure to perform comprehensive interventional procedures that can be lifesaving in an emergency and can also be used to prevent heart damage. The cardiac catheterization staff, on call 24 hours a day, consists of interventional cardiologists, cardiac nurses, and technicians, who specialize in restoring blood flow to the heart using minimally invasive techniques.
"Our goal is to unblock the artery within 90 minutes from the time the patient enters the hospital," says interventional cardiologist Neerav Shah, MD. Patients arriving at the Emergency Department with chest pain are given preliminary tests to determine whether they are having a heart attack. If a heart attack is occurring, they are taken to the Cardiac Cath Lab, where the staff pinpoints the location of the blockage and threads a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) into the blood vessel. The clot is flattened against the walls of the vessel with a tiny balloon, or it may be drawn out with a vacuum-like device. Physicians may complete the procedure with insertion of a stent (a tiny scaffold) to prop open the artery.
"Not all cardiac catheterizations are emergency procedures," Dr. Shah notes. "Some are diagnostic, meant to provide a closer picture of the heart and blood vessels to see if treatment is warranted. But it's important to note that Wellington Regional now has the equipment, protocols and staff to do both."
Patients must do their part, however. "Too often, people wait too long before seeking treatment," Dr. Shah says. "Not everyone who has a heart attack has the typical crushing chest pain -- sometimes the symptoms are much more subtle. It's important to know the signs and call 911 right away if you feel something is wrong."
Signs of a Possible Heart Attack
If you have any of these symptoms, don't wait:- Discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including pain in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach
- Shortness of breath
- Other signs of discomfort, including breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness
Interventional Cardiologist
