Protected PCI Care For Patient Caregiver

Mattie Warren is a busy woman to say the least. As a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Mattie always finds herself caring for others before herself. Not to mention, she often fosters children (100 children over 8 ½ years) and works part time as a patient caregiver. Over time, Mattie’s quality of life had slowly deteriorated, as she developed diabetes and a chronic cough. Routine tasks of going to the grocery store or even walking down the stairs completely exhausted Mattie.

She scheduled an appointment with Dr. Murlidhar Amin, an interventional cardiologist at the Medical Center of Southeast Texas, who then ran a diagnostic test to check Mattie’s heart. He discovered that her heart had severe blockages that would require open heart surgery. However, she was deemed too high-risk and was told she may not survive the surgery. Mattie felt hopeless.

She went back to Dr. Amin and asked if there was anything else he could do to help. That’s when Dr. Amin and his partner, Dr. Kunal Sarkar, introduced the idea of Protected PCI. The physicians explained that an Impella^TM heart pump would support Mattie’s heart during the procedure, allowing them to clear blockages and place stents percutaneously. Mattie agreed and scheduled the procedure.

Following her Protected PCI procedure, Mattie felt an immediate improvement in her health. She began walking more, ultimately lost 30 lbs. and no longer has her chronic cough or diabetes. Today, she can babysit her great grandchildren and easily go to the grocery store or run errands. Because of her doctors and the Impella heart pump, Mattie’s heart has recovered.

As with any medical treatment, individual results may vary. There are potential risks, these risks need to be discussed with your doctor and recovery takes time. The success of this procedure depends on many factors, including your physical condition and your body’s ability to tolerate the procedure. Use care in the selection of your doctors and hospital, based on their skill and experience.