December 24, 2014

South Bay Hospital, Sun City Center, FL

& Brandon Regional Hospital, Brandon, FL

When I called Monte he said he had a miserable night because his roommate, who has COPD, was hacking all night and one of the nurses wore chemically strong cologne that caused Monte to have an allergic reaction that had him wheezing all night.  

The cardiologist, Dr. Nagamia, had been in to see Monte to list the tests he has ordered beginning with an echocardiogram.  During this test, sound waves directed at the heart from a wand like device (transducer) hold on the chest bounce off the heart and are processed electronically to provide video images of the heart.  An echocardiogram can help identify whether an area of the heart has been damaged by a heart attack and isn’t pumping normally or a peak capacity.

When I arrived at the hospital at 11AM, Monte wasn’t in his room.  His roommate told me he had been taken downstairs for a stress test.  Monte had to walk very fast on a treadmill while attached to an ECG machine.  Stress tests measure how the heart and blood vessels respond to exertion.  

 

Following the stress test, Monte was taken to the CT (cardiac computerized tomography) lab.  This test is used to diagnose heart problems, including the extent of damage from heart attacks.  He had to lie perfectly still on a table inside a doughnut-shaped machine.  An X-ray tube inside the machine rotates around the body and collects images of the heart and chest.

Within an hour of Monte returning to his room, Dr. Nagamia ordered a second CT because he wasn’t satisfied with the results of the first test.

We were treated carolers. 

What a sweet thing to do!

 

When Dr. Nagamia came into Monte’s room a short time later, he told us the results of the all the tests were conclusive.  They showed Monte had suffered at least one heart attack in the past causing permanent damage.   We were presented with three options.

Option one was to do nothing.  Not really an option.

Option two was to treat the condition with medication and hope for the best.  Not a very good option.

Finally, option three (the option the doctor recommended) was to do a cardiac catheterization to find out if there is any blockage that contributed to the attacks.  If there is blockage a stent might have to be placed in the artery.  Option three would present two options.  South Bay Hospital has a brand new Cath Lab.  Monte would be only the third patient to have the diagnostic procedure done in the lab.  Because 300 procedures have to be completed before certification is granted for placing stents, the lab can only be used for diagnosis. 

If the catheterization reveals blockage, Monte would have to be transferred to another hospital to undergo another catheterization for the placement of the stent. 

Option one was to wait until Friday to be transferred to Brandon Regional Hospital where the catheterization can be done and if necessary a stent inserted.

The reason we would have to wait until Friday is the doctor didn’t think he could get together a team on Christmas Eve.

Option two was to have the diagnostic catheterization performed at South Bay immediately so Monte wouldn’t be sitting in the hospital stressing about the unknown for two days.  And if necessary, he could be transported to Brandon on Friday for the stent procedure.  BUT at least he would know now.

After discussing it, Monte opted to have the diagnostic catheterization.  I walked down to the lab with him, kissed him goodbye and made a quick trip to Taco Bell because I hadn’t eaten in hours.  The doctor had told me the test would take at least a couple of hours because of the amount of prep required.

I was back in Monte’s hospital room within an hour.  A nurse rushed in the room instructing me to gather up Monte’s belongings because he was being transported to Brandon immediately. 

I followed her to the cath lab where Dr. Nagamia explained that he found an artery that was 95% blocked so placing the stent was a matter of urgency. 

  When a coronary artery (an artery feeding the heart muscle) is narrowed by a buildup of fatty deposits called plaque, it can reduce blood flow. 

 If blood flow is reduced to the heart muscle, chest pain can result. 

 If a clot forms and completely or almost completely blocks the blood flow to the part of the heart a heart attack results.

I followed the ambulance to Brandon.  By the time I parked, went through security and found Monte’s private room, he was already being prepped for the procedure. 

A stent is a tiny mesh tube that props open an artery and is left there permanently.  Stents help keep coronary arteries open and reduce the chance of a heart attack.

Monte was wheeled out of the room at 5:20.  I sat in the room with the TV on but not really watching.  What I did watch was the slowly moving clock.  At one point a code blue was announced that had me imaging the worst.  Finally, at 7:30PM Monte was wheeled back into the room. 

 The doctor said everything went well and told us that Monte may be able to go home the next day if he has a good night.