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Lake Pointe Medical Center offers Interventional Cardiac Catheterization and Open Heart Surgery
From staff reports
Lake Pointe Medical Center now offers Interventional Cardiac Catheterization procedures, as part of its already existing Cardiology Services. Interventional Cardiac Catheterization procedures include balloon angioplasties and stents to correct blockages of the heart. Lake Pointe Medical Center is one of the first facilities between Rowlett and Tyler to provide this level of care.
"The American Heart Association states that Time is Muscle," said cardiothoracic surgeon Gerry Jones, MD, previously recognized by Texas Monthly Magazine as a Texas Super Doctor from 2004 to 2011 and selected as one of The Best Doctors in America from 2005 to 2011. "The longer it takes for us to respond to a blockage of the heart, the greater the risk of irreversible damage to vital heart muscle. When a patent is admitted in the midst of a heart attack, if we can respond immediately to relieve the blockage with a stent and preserve precious heart muscle, our timely response can head off open heart surgery or death. Lake Pointe's Interventional Cardiology Lab will allow us to do just that." Lake Pointe Medical Center is the first facility between Rowlett and Tyler to provide this level of care.
Within the past year, Lake Pointe Medical Center has received the American Heart Association Get with the Guidelines Gold Award for care of patients with coronary artery disease and heart failure, Level IV Trauma Designation and Primary Stroke Center Certification from Joint Commission.
Most heart attacks occur when a blood clot blocks one of the coronary arteries, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching the heart. When this happens, heart muscle dies or is permanently damaged.
"The preferred treatment for opening blocked arteries is an Interventional Cardiac Catheterization procedure called balloon angioplasty," said Trish Batsell, director of Cardiovascular Services at the hospital. "The procedure should be performed no longer than 12 hours after the heart attack. A balloon angioplasty involves threading a thin catheter with a balloon on the end into the blocked artery. The balloon is then expanded to restore blood flow. A balloon expandable stent, which is a small, metal mesh tube mounted on a balloon, may be placed in the artery to help open and prevent it from closing again."
The Cardiac Catheterization Suite was totally renovated with some of the latest technology. This includes a state of the art digitally integrated imaging system that ensures quality imaging in real time. Also, the imaging system decreases procedure time by utilizing less contrast and radiation exposure to the patient. This is another example of quality driving the decisions at Lake Pointe. The team at Lake Point Medical Center is devoted to excellent patient care.
A heart attack is an emergency that requires immediate medical treatment. Indications of a heart attack include chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, dizziness, sweating or indigestion. If these symptoms occur, call 9-1-1 immediately. Do not delay or try to drive yourself to the hospital.
"This is a significant upgrade for the hospital and the community," said Scott Stephenson, MD, FACC, medical director of cardiology services at Lake Pointe Medical Center and recently recognized by Texas Monthly Magazine as a 2011 Texas Super Doctor. "Lake Pointe has made a considerable investment, not only in facility and equipment but in staff education. Extensive training was necessary to get every department up to speed with this dramatic advancement -- from ED to ICU, blood services to the pharmacy. It has been a full team effort to get all the components in place to guarantee successful patient outcomes. I am proud to be working at a hospital that is invested in elevating the standard of care to higher and higher levels to meet the needs of everyone in the communities we serve."
Cardiology Services at Lake Pointe Medical Center also include Open Heart Surgery in the new Open Heart OR Suite, the first service of its kind in our local community.
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