Mending a Broken Heart {Literally & Figuratively}

In less than a month of losing her husband of 33 years, the unthinkable happened to my mother.  On June 25 she experienced tightness in her chest with pain radiating down her left arm and vomiting.  Fortunately my son was with her at the time and notified my sister, who rushed her to Huntsville Hospital’s emergency room. Upon admittance her blood pressure reading was 225/74!

Although her EKG was normal, Dr. Laney her admitting cardiologist, indicated the symptoms were consistent with a heart attack.  Although mom was fearful, Dr. Laney was incredibly nurturing and she was comforted by his gentle command. He must have gotten an “A” in bedside manner during medical school!

In response to her symptoms, a cardiac enzyme panel was ordered to measure the amount of enzymes and proteins secreted by an injured heart muscle.  Cardiac enzyme studies are usually repeated every 4-6 hours during the first 24 hours for comparison. In her case, the initial tests results were negative but the second panel confirmed she suffered a cardiac event. The enzyme panel was followed by a coronary angiogram (heart catheterization) procedure to determine if there is blockage.  In this test, a dye is injected through a catheter that is typically placed in the groin or wrist.  X-ray images will detect the dye and determine blockages and location.

Mom had significant blockage in two main vessels and also on one on the back side of the heart.  At this point, she became a potential candidate for bypass surgery (officially termed Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting) to remove the blockages.  Before she could be scheduled for surgery and due to complications from diabetes, she was subjected to another series of tests including a carotid artery sonography to make sure the corotid artery was not blocked and vascular ultrasound to determine which blood vessels may be used. The “mapping” portion of the ultrasound test is performed to determine which blood vessels may be used as a lower extremity bypass graft or coronary artery bypass graft for your surgical procedure.

Fortunately Dr. Richard Clay, a highly regarded cardio-thoracic surgeon, was on call and agreed to perform the surgery.  Typically, surgery is scheduled very quickly after all of the tests have been performed.  However, in mom’s case, the dye from the angiogram was negatively impacting her kidneys, so the surgery was delayed until her creatin levels returned to normal.

Finally, a week after admittance, she sailed through the surgery with no complications!  Thanks to all of the skilled nurses, physicians, technicians and medical professionals who helped mend her broken heart.