Cardiologists, LC newsletter

Helping our patients live fuller, more active lives.

Fall 2010

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Cedar Rapids, IA Permit No. 91

1002 Fourth Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403

Heart Strong For your health Improve your heart health Tuesday, Oct. 19  7 - 8 p.m.

St. Luke’s Hospital, 3rd Floor Heart Center Classrooms Experts from Cardiologists, L.C. and St. Luke’s Hospital’s newly designated Chest Pain Center will discuss the latest in heart health including how to care for your heart, identify symptoms and what to do if you experience heart problems. To register for this free event, call 319/369-7395 or visit stlukescr.org.

Don Kirberger, retired engineer, is glad to get back to his consulting work after open-heart surgery.

Quadruple bypass surgery

ST. LUKE’S

saves man’s life

Check your heart health with the St. Luke’s experts. St. Luke’s is now offering Heart Check, a series of five tests to assess heart, vascular and stroke health.

The cost for all five tests plus a consultation with a St. Luke’s heart care expert is $195.

Testing includes: • Electrocardiogram (EKG) • Echocardiogram (ECHO) • Abdominal aortic aneurysm test • Carotid artery ultrasound • Ankle-Brachial Index test for

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

A comprehensive blood test is also available for $40.

This includes a cholesterol test, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), which provides information about the kidneys, liver and electrolyte and acid/base balance as well as blood sugar and blood proteins and also a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test that screens for and helps diagnose thyroid disorders.

Call 319/369-8129 to schedule your St. Luke’s Heart Check appointment.

When Don Kirberger decided to go to St. Luke’s Emergency Department for his shortness of breath, he thought it was just lingering symptoms left over from his recent bout with pneumonia.

“I noticed I was getting tired when walking,” he recalled.

“So my wife, Karen, took me to St. Luke’s ER.” As it turns out, Don had the same doctor, Ryan Dowden, MD, who previously treated him for pneumonia. But this time, after noticing his elevated cardiac enzymes and a resting pulse rate of 112, the emergency room doctor became suspicious.

Dr. Dowden called in Richard Kettelkamp, DO, a cardiologist with Cardiologists, L.C., who suspected Don had a blockage in his heart. Dr. Kettelkamp recommended a cardiac catheterization

procedure to determine the problem.

What Dr. Kettlekamp found during catheterization was not one, but ten cardiac blockages. Dr. Kettelkamp consulted with James Levett, MD, cardiac surgeon with Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa, P.C., who recommended bypass surgery using veins and arteries from other parts of his body. A week later, Don had open-heart surgery to perform five bypasses for ten blockages in his heart.

Richard Kettelkamp, DO Cardiologists, L.C.

Your genes: the cancer connection Tuesday, Oct.26  7 - 8 p.m.

St. Luke’s Hospital, 3rd Floor Heart Center Classrooms Attend this program for answers to all of your questions about genetic testing and learn ways you can reduce your risk and improve your health! To register for this free event, call 319/369-7395 or visit stlukescr.org.

“I had heard the doctors at St. Luke’s were number one in heart surgery,” said Don, so he had every confidence in the procedure. “I’ve always gone to St. Luke’s and I just feel that even though it’s in a good-sized city, it has a small town feeling where people take care of you.”

1002 Fourth Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403  319/364-7101  cardiologistslc.com

continued

Heart attack signs & symptoms Sudden, severe chest pain is always an emergency. Don’t wait. Call 911. The first hour of a heart attack is the most critical. Treating warning signs right away can mean the difference between life and death.

Heart attack symptoms: • Uncomfortable fullness, pressure,

squeezing or pain in the chest lasting two or more minutes. Pain may range from mild to unbearable.

• Pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck, jaw, arms or back.

• Lightheadedness, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.

If you experience one or more warning signs of a heart attack call 911 or have someone drive you to the ER.

Quadruple bypass surgery continued from page one

After surgery, Don was in the intensive care unit (ICU) for 24 hours and then the cardiac care unit, where he began rehabilitation.

And a week later he was able to go home. “It’s amazing to me that you can have open-heart surgery and be home in a week,” said Karen.

“Everyday I could see him getting better.”

After returning home, Don continued with his rehabilitation routine that included exercising, avoiding physical stress and watching his diet as well as attending cardiac rehab classes at St. Luke’s.

“Looking back,” Karen said with a catch in her voice, “if we had not gone to the hospital on that Friday afternoon, he probably would have had a major heart attack. So what I’d like people to know is that if you’re having sensations in your chest, don’t ignore it. Go to the emergency room, that’s what it’s there for. It may be a false alarm. Maybe it’s only indigestion and you’re embarrassed – be embarrassed.”

To watch Don’s video story and his open-heart surgery log on to stlukescr.org and look for the “Inside St. Luke’s OR” banner.

If so, you’re not alone. Approximately 25 percent of the adult population has varicose veins. They develop between the ages of 20-35 and increase with age. Those who are overweight or have a family history have a greater tendency to develop varicose veins. Prolonged standing, sitting, leg crossing and long hot showers are also aggravating factors.

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are enlarged, weakened, dilated veins that have permanently lost their ability to carry blood from the legs back up to the heart against the force of gravity. As the blood falls back down the leg and pools, the veins overfill, giving them their typical unsightly bulging appearance. The condition can cause tired, heavy, aching, throbbing and swollen legs. Nighttime leg cramps and leg restlessness are also problems caused by varicose veins. If left untreated, varicose veins may worsen and lead to the formation of blood clots (thrombosis), inflammation of the vein (phlebitis) and skin.

Treatment options The Vein Clinic at Cardiologists, L.C. offers two comprehensive, non-surgical treatment options for varicose veins: sclerotherapy and endovenous laser treatment. Neither require anesthesia or hospitalization, and can be performed in our office.

Faces of heart disease: framing the issue survivors reception Thursday, Nov. 4  5 - 7 pm Kliks Photography 808 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids Join other heart disease survivors for an evening of empowerment, education and sharing. To RSVP call 378-1763 or e-mail jennifer.mcleod@heart.org by Oct. 29.

Free foot screenings Monday, Nov. 8  By appointment Foot & Ankle Specialists of Iowa 1215 Blairs Ferry Road, Marion Feet often show the first signs of diabetes, call 319/363-8854 for an appointment.

What a headache!

Tuesday, Nov. 9  7 - 8 p.m.

St. Luke’s Hospital, 3rd Floor Heart Center Classrooms

Do you have varicose veins?

Do you suffer from unsightly, sometimes painful varicose veins?

For your health

Sclerotherapy During sclerotherapy, a chemical is injected into your varicose vein that irritates and scars the vein from the inside out so it no longer fills with blood.

Circulation is carried out through your healthy veins located deeper within the body, so the outward appearance and sometimes pain associated with the varicose veins is significantly reduced.

Laser treatment Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) involves a tiny fiber inserted into the varicose vein through a catheter. A laser light is emitted through the fiber.

As the fiber is pulled back through the vein, a laser light, causes the vein to close and seal shut. The veins that are closed are superficial veins that handle less than five percent of the body’s blood flow. The blood is automatically routed to other, healthy veins.

For more information about varicose veins and treatment options, contact Cardiologists, L.C. at 319/364-7101.

Learn why people experience headaches, the best ways to ease pain and more. To register for this free event, call 319/369-7395 or visit stlukescr.org.

Body with soul: an inspiring evening with Chef Art Smith

Ask the expert Learn about cardiac ablation Q: What is a cardiac ablation?

A: Cardiac ablation is a procedure to diagnose and treat abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). A patient may be referred to an electrophysiologist (cardiologist who has specialized training in arrhythmias) when their symptoms include palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain or even falls due to severe dizziness or brief periods of unconsciousness.

The diagnostic portion of a cardiac ablation localizes the portion of the heart where the arrhythmia is originating from. Once localized, the abnormal portion of the heart is ablated (destroyed) either using radiofrequency (burning) energy or cryotherapy (freezing). Often ablations cure the arrhythmia and are an excellent alternative to antiarrhythmic medications.

Q: How is a cardiac ablation performed?

A:

A cardiac ablation is performed in the hospital in the electrophysiology (EP) laboratory. The EP laboratory has highly specialized equipment including X-ray equipment (fluoroscopy), sophisticated mapping and pacing hardware and software. The specialized equipment allows the doctor to create both a visual and electrical map of the heart to help diagnose and treat arrhythmias. Catheters (small plastic tubes) are inserted through both the left and right large veins in the leg. The catheters can both record the electrical signals of the heart and pace the heart to create an electrical map of the heart and localize the arrhythmia.

Sunday, Nov. 14  7 – 8:30 p.m.

Cedar Rapids Marriott Dr. Matthew McMahon, Cardiologists, L.C., will offer heart-healthy advice while celebrity Chef Art Smith serves up helpings of inspiration during a live cooking demonstration! As Oprah’s long-time personal chef, Art perfected an arsenal of healthy recipes. Learn how to cook healthy foods and improve your health through good eating! To register for this free event, call 319/369-7395 or visit stlukescr.org.

Matthew McMahon, DO Cardiologists, L.C.

Q: What is the recovery after a cardiac ablation?

A: After a cardiac ablation, all the catheters are removed from the heart via the insertion site in the legs.

Patients are required to lie flat for about three hours to help the insertion sites heal and to help prevent bleeding after the procedure. Patients usually go home the same day after the recovery period.

Mohit Chawla, MD, Cardiologists, L.C.

cardiologistslc.com