Hearts in Hand - How a Procedure Through Your Wrist Can Save Your Life
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ก.พ. 2012
- For many people, a heart attack strikes suddenly and without warning. For others, however, like Sister Geraldine Burns, Sister of Notre Dame and vice principal at Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody, heart attacks can cause minor symptoms that often go unnoticed.
Sister Burns had been experiencing some shortness of breath after climbing stairs or carrying groceries into her home, but chalked it up to fatigue and a lack of exercise. When the symptoms continued during a trip to Washington, DC, she decided to see a doctor, but still did not expect that her diagnosis would be serious.
"I thought I was feeling poorly because of the heat and all the walking on the trip. I was concerned, but never thought it could be life threatening," she said.
Soon after her trip, Sister Burns visited NSMC cardiologist, Andrew Kemper, M.D., who performed an angiogram, which is an X-ray test that uses a special dye and camera to take pictures of the blood flow in an artery. The test revealed that she had a blockage in one of the arteries of her heart. Furthermore, tests showed she had suffered a minor heart attack during her trip.
"I remember getting the news that I had suffered a heart attack," said Sister Burns. "I was so surprised because I didn't think that heart attacks were supposed to happen that way."
Heart attack symptoms differ for women and men. Although most people think of a heart attack as extreme chest pain, many women may instead feel nauseous, achy and weak.
"Unfortunately, we see many cases like Sister Burns'," said NSMC Chief of Cardiology David Roberts, M.D. "Symptoms can mask themselves as something minor that patients often ignore."
Soon after Sister Burns' diagnosis, Dr. Roberts performed an angioplasty to open up her cardiac artery. But instead of doing it the traditional way through the femoral artery in the leg, he did it through the radial artery, accessing it through her wrist.
North Shore Medical Center is the only hospital on the North Shore to perform routine radial artery catheterizations in addition to the traditional femoral artery angioplasty approach. During the procedure, Dr. Roberts inserted a thin catheter tube into Sister Burns' radial artery in her wrist and follows it up to her heart with X-ray guidance, maneuvered it up into her heart. He then inflated a balloon to open the blockage and inserted two stents so the artery would remain open permanently and blood could continue to flow.
"Radial artery catheterizations are a fairly new procedure in the United States. By entering through a patient's wrist instead of the groin area, the patient recovers faster and has less discomfort," said Dr. Roberts. "After the procedure, a patient can stand immediately and usually goes home that same day. Patients who undergo a radial artery catherization require nothing more than a small bandage on their wrist."
Immediately after the procedure Sister Burns felt better. "After the procedure I felt like a new person. I hadn't felt that healthy in a year," she said.
To keep Sister Burns' heart strong and to help her recover, she has joined NSMC's Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, which teaches cardiac patients about healthy eating, stress management and how to create and maintain an exercise program.
"I'm learning more about good health everyday," said Sister Burns, who attends cardiac rehabilitation three times a week. "I'm lucky not only to be alive, but to have a great team of caregivers on the North Shore who saved my life."
I recently had a radial catheterization following a severe heart attack. The procedure was quick and painless and I felt instantly better thanks to the miracles of modern medical science and skilled cardiologists.
Im in hospital now and waiting for my catheter procedure.
Im really afraid 😢
@@NAEEMAHMED-fp4us I hope it all went as smoothly for you as it did for me. Take care
@@NAEEMAHMED-fp4usHow did it go? Are how are doing?
@@angelking5836 it's normal, nothing to worry.
@@NAEEMAHMED-fp4usI had one last week it went well.good luck
I just suffered a massive heart attack on the 25th of this month(September in 2020. Dr. Arant went through my wrist to my heart and removed a blood clot that was blocking 100% of the arterial blood flow in my heart. I can’t remember the section, but he removed and I woke up in the ICU. All I remembered was being carted into the ER and he was waiting for me. He asked some questions and that was the last that remembered. He is a great man that saved my life. I would like to know who developed these procedures that have saved thousands if not more, lives. Thank you each and everyone for what you do.
glad ur alive
I taught with Sr. Gerry at Fenwick and I also have had a heart attack. Lahey Clinic in Burlington MA performed a radial catheterization. The procedure, although an emergency, proved to be successful. At a later date i was transfered to WXVAMC and there the cardiology team performed a second procedure on different blocked artery. Thus far all is well! If you get to read this Sr. Gerry know that I wish you all the best in your recovery.
I just recently had this procedure done at 42 years old find out I had a heart attack to have a stent put in my wrist. The doctors was wonderful and the procedure it came out great it wasn't real painful or anything.
I'm 37yrs old I had a heart attack on July 16th. The scariest day of my life. Doctor's told me I'm lucky to be alive. I had a stent put in that day and was home 3 days later.
Glad you're ok now. How have you been feeling since the procedure? I'm having it done through my wrist this Jan and really scared.
These doctors are amazing thank god !
dr waldman did mine in my wrist 1/10/2011 i spent one night in the hospital because i had other issues going on .but since that day i feel great never had a issue .. the only pain was the feeling of a large needle in my wrist .but other wise it wasnt all that bad i was hone tbe next day ..it was done at salem hospital .. salem mass .. great staff .. they kept me alive when i tbought i was going to die.. now i see dr block once a year im doing great
How are you
How are you doing now
I just had this procedure performed after having a heart attack. I was told they would insert the catheter either into my leg in the groin area or though my wrist. Even though I was awake the entire time I didn't know the insertion point until later because I couldn't feel anything. Like this patient, before having the stent, I was having trouble walking upstairs or steep hills.
I'm having this done in January as I've been tied and out of breath. My cardiogram stress test showed positive changes. How are you doing now? I'm scared having this done.
I had this procedure done after a small heart attack .....I watched the whole procedure on the screen, talked to the Cardiologist about archery hunting and I never felt one bit of pain.
I recently had this done and for me there was alot of discomfort as the long catheter went in. 10 out of 10 pain along my whole arm and 8 of 10 pain in my chest. I don't remember the machine going around my chest area because as soon I was complaining about how pain full it was Doctor said it all done.
My husband passed on September 18 during a heart cath procedure at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, KY.
I'm so sorry
any explanations as to why?
I was so relaxed i barely notoced anything but a little pressure on my wrist. I didnt receive a stent . Just a few days ago. St. E's thank you
I’m 42 year old male and just had a heart attack 8 days ago…. I had a 90+ % blockage in my left circumflex artery which they where able to put a 4.5mm by 30mm stent in to clear it… I thought I was dead the day this happened bc the pressure on my chest was crazy and drove myself to a fire station right down the road for help and they saved me… Them and the ER team saved my life bc I should be dead right now…. The year prior I had episodes of severe chest pain and then my ankles/feet began to swell for a couple month prior to the heart attack… All I can say is trust your gut and don’t overlook things bc I did for a while year and shouldn’t be here…
Im really nervous about having my 3rd angiogram even thought i have had 2 done already 😭😭😭😭
no mention of heart attack and stroke possibilities
I had this 🕊 done before I left the hospital 🏥 but it was a bit surprised by the time I got to work on the same level of the problem with my current situation of being a good relationship with my doctor 😷 and it was done in a good place. Had heart cath done and had a heart failure due to the fact that I had covid viruses in my heart ♥ FAILURE and now I do have to go through all this and I was having a good time with my current situation and my cousin Gloria Grove sister in law died in February of 2022. Her friend has heart failure due to the fact that she was acting like a calm person and she told me that she will be able to get Gloria and tell her I have the same heart ♥ FAILURE but mine was do to COVID GOPS SUPPORTERS AND LAWMAKERS. COVID KILLS PEOPLE.
In January 2023 i had an angiogram test. When i was home i realized my wrist slowly got swollowed. it was 2cm big and now 5cm big like a small ball in my wrist. What did they do wrong in hospital? Sorry for my writting English isn't good. But you might understand.
Yes, no problem with the procedure, but the blood thinner takes getting use to. Light headedness, sudden bending over to pick up something, causes a little dizziness, taking deep double breaths at times, and medication needs to be taken for a minimum of a year and in some cases for the rest of your life.
Amen
I’ve had 2 procedures through my femoral artery and this past Monday via the radial artery. My recovery has been great and I have a third stent.
I’ve only had some discomfort in my wrist and the relief was instant!
Not so small and not so teenie...it hurts like hell
❤
89 year old woman does how long she lives after
my mom has the same but now sh had the Cat......
They completely miss the stuff they push into your artery that opens it up that feels like a volcano in your arm lol
And mine did hurt but it was a very large stent
CAN I BE PUT ALL THE WAY TO SLEEP I CAN'T TAKE BEING HALF WOKE CAN SOMEONE TELL ME I HAVE THIS PROCEDURE IN A WEEK
Just had this procedure 2 days ago, u really will be amazed at how much you do not even notice that they are doing it. Please dont worry our cardiac procedure e have come a long way
K B how did your procedure go?
Had it done yesterday. I freaked out!!!! Full panic attack!!!! They sedated me. Consciously but I slept through most of it
I'm glad you're ok. How did you feel afterwards? I'm having it done January and I'm scared anxiety. They'll have to give me something to relax me.
NO PAIN..........What a joke..............Had to have multi pain killers.......... though I was having a heart attack !!!
Wow that's incredible, unbelievably clever doctors... unlike the designer of your jacket fabric - yikes!😂
Come on…this guys a dead wringer for a Groucho Marx look a like….
Thus is inhumane