In Good Health - Winter 2012 - Fairview - (Page 5)

Rachelle Maassen, a registered nurse at Lakewood Hospital’s birthing center, was treated for several heart conditions in her 30s. ‘wired differently’: EP Lab diagnoses and Treats Electrical Issues As part of a routine physical a few years ago, 39-year-old Andrew Naugle had an EKG. That simple test showed that he has Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, a heart condition in which there is an extra electrical pathway in the heart that can lead to a life-threatening arrhythmia if left untreated. Naugle was surprised, because as a child, he had been diagnosed with a heart murmur (mitral valve prolapse), but he had never experienced any symptoms—at least not any of which he was aware. “The electrophysiologist/cardiologist told me that this extra pathway was in a unique area and that my heart had just learned to adapt to the situation. I may have been having symptoms, but because my heart adapted to address them, I’d have never known,” Naugle says. Testing in the EP Lab at Fairview Hospital determined the exact location of the abnormal pathway in Naugle’s heart as well as how fast electrical signals could conduct through it. The biggest concern for patients with WPW is the possibility of developing atrial fibrillation with a fast ventricular response that can worsen to life-threatening ventricular fibrillation. In mid-October 2011, Naugle underwent an ablation procedure in the EP Lab. The procedure was successful, completely disconnecting the extra pathway that had existed in his heart since birth. Lon Castle, MD, stresses the importance of this specialized care. “The advanced technology in the Electrophysiology Lab at Fairview Hospital, combined with the vast knowledge and skill of our physicians and clinical staff, affords us a unique opportunity—an opportunity to conduct diagnostic, therapeutic and interventional procedures that can result in lifesaving alterations to people’s hearts,” he says. For five years, Maassen went back to life as normal, raising her kids, returning to work, and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine as recommended by her cardiologist. But two years ago, she experienced a rapid pounding in her chest on several occasions, including once when she was taking a tae kwon do class. For the first time, her ICD actually shocked her heart, attempting to restore it to a normal rhythm. What Maassen experienced was supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Solving a Second Problem As a result of that experience, Maassen came to the Electrophysiology (EP) Lab at Fairview Hospital, where testing determined that her heart had a second electrical pathway, one that most people don’t have. Following an ablation procedure a year ago, that pathway was shut down, successfully eliminating the risk of future SVT symptoms. Today, because no specific cause has been identified for her cardiac arrest, Maassen’s ICD continues to monitor her heart function, sending reports to her physician’s office electronically. She sees Dr. Castle every six months and undergoes an annual stress test and heart X-ray. “Experiencing cardiac arrest and dealing with the subsequent issues with my heart has really been a turning point in my life,” she says. “I’m so thankful for the perspective this experience has given to my life—allowing me to know and value what is truly important.” Fairview Hospital’s Electrophysiology team. Back row left to right: Traci Sustersic, Todd Finau and Denise Stanton. Front row left to right: Kay Hill, Sharon Lopata, Carrie Cumberledge and Jackie Stone you know? dId To take a virtual tour of the Fairview Heart Center, visit fairviewhospital.org/heart or call 866.733.6363 for an appointment. In Good HEALTH I5 http://www.fairviewhospital.org/heart

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of In Good Health - Winter 2012 - Fairview

In Good Health - Winter 2012 - Fairview
Contents
Give birth your way-midwives are ready to help
Could you have an irregular heartbeat?
Truck driver steers his heath back on track
Doing it her way
Don't fall for these eight myths about back problems

In Good Health - Winter 2012 - Fairview