So when she developed a slight ache in the middle of her chest in June 2009 while playing catch with her granddaughter, she knew she needed medical attention.
Ruth Ann went to the Emergency Department at Riverview Medical Center, where doctors ran several tests, including blood work and an electrocardiogram. Sure enough, she had experienced a heart attack.
Reopening Blocked Arteries
At Riverview, the treatment for each heart attack is tailored to the patient. In Ruth Ann's case, she didn't need to go straight into surgery. "Although she'd had a heart attack, the results of her electrocardiogram didn't indicate that an artery needed to be opened right away," says Aristotelis Vlahos, M.D., codirector of the primary angioplasty program at Riverview's cardiac catheterization lab.
Ruth Ann decided to take part in the C-PORT clinical trial, which is a study to evaluate the safety of performing nonemergency angioplasty at nonsurgical hospitals, like Riverview. Angioplasty is a procedure that allows doctors to both see and clear blockages in arteries.
Ruth Ann stayed in the intensive care unit (ICU) overnight so she could be monitored closely. The next day, Dr. Vlahos performed the angioplasty. It revealed that one of her arteries was 99 percent blocked. Dr. Vlahos snaked a catheter with a balloon at the tip into the artery. He then inflated the balloon and implanted a stent, a tiny wire mesh tube, to keep the artery clear.
Back to Active with Her Grandkids
Today, Ruth Ann feels strong and enjoys an active lifestyle that includes taking brisk walks, working out in the gym, practicing a mental and physical discipline called T'ai Chi Chih, and helping raise her four grandchildren. She credits the high-quality care she received at Riverview for helping her return to such a busy lifestyle.
"The care in the ICU and cath lab at Riverview is top-notch," she says. "If I have to be in a hospital, I wouldn't choose to go anywhere else."
And it's no wonder: "Everyone who works in the cath lab at Riverview has a strong sense of teamwork; we're almost like a family," Dr. Vlahos adds. "Many of us have worked together closely for more than six years, and we share a sincere dedication to our patients and our work."
About the Doctor
- Aristotelis E. Vlahos, M.D.
Board certified in Internal Medicine, Interventional Cardiology, and Cardiovascular Diseases
Tinton Falls, NJ | 732-741-7400
