Banner Boswell heart patient is focus of national case study
SUN CITY, Ariz. (Feb. 26, 2009) – The prompt actions of a Peoria resident and the cardiovascular team at Banner Boswell’s Heart Center are why he is alive today and soon will be the focus of a national case study.
Dustin Wagner, age 26, recently suffered a rare cardiac injury while playing flag football, one of only four other known cases in the United States. He fell especially hard while diving to reach a fellow player and the blunt trauma he sustained to his chest resulted in the formation of a large clot that initiated a heart attack.
It took an hour for Wagner to realize the excruciating chest, arm, leg and back pain he was experiencing wasn’t getting any better; in fact it was worsening. That’s when he called 9-1-1 and was taken to Banner Boswell’s Emergency Department.
“We knew right away this was a unique situation, seeing someone so young who was experiencing chest pain,” explained Vincent Nicchi, M.D., cardiologist on staff at Banner Boswell. “We were racing against the clock to find the source of his pain, and after a CT (computerized tomography) scan, chest X-ray and other tests were non-conclusive, we performed a cardiac catheterization and found a large clot one-and-a-half inches in length and the consistency of gelatin caused by a ruptured artery around the heart.”
Within minutes, the clot was eliminated using a highly specialized catheterization device used to clear larger blockages. Banner Boswell is among a select few medical centers in the Valley utilizing the Angiojet rheolytic atherectomy to remove clots. Wagner’s blockage was located in the left anterior descending artery of the heart, often referred to as the “widow maker” because clots in this area often result in death.
When Wagner awoke from the procedure, the pain was gone. Within 48 hours, he was discharged. Wagner subsequently passed a cardiac stress test with flying colors and has resumed his routine, although playing more flag football – his passion – will have to wait a while longer.
Much of Wagner’s routine these days is finalizing his studies to become a respiratory therapist. He graduates this summer. Wagner had just completed a clinical rotation at Banner Boswell two months prior to his arrival at the hospital by ambulance.
In addition to his medical training, he has an even greater appreciation for how patients feel.
“I am one of the lucky ones who sought care at the right time and at the right place,” Wagner said. “Everyone at Banner Boswell took the best care of me. My nursing team was great and even gave me a signed heart pillow. When I begin practicing as a respiratory therapist, I’ll always be able to look patients in the eye and say ‘Hey, I’ve been there.’ I want to do everything I can to give them that positive, caring experience that I had when I was a patient.”
“While physical impact traditionally does not cause a blood clot of this type and increase a risk for cardiac damage, Dustin’s case is being further reviewed to pinpoint other factors which may have contributed to this rare instance,” Dr. Nicchi said. “He will be the focus of a case study which is in prepublication in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology so that others can learn from Banner Boswell’s experience.”
Time is muscle. According to Dr. Nicchi, if Wagner had waited even two hours later to seek help, he could have lost half of his cardiac muscle and become debilitated for the rest of his life. The longer any muscle, including the heart, goes without blood supply, the more likely the muscle will be damaged permanently. That’s why opening the arteries and eliminating any blockage as quickly as possible is critical to health of the heart.
Wagner’s case underscores the importance of seeking prompt medical help for a heart attack or other cardiac condition as quickly as possible. Knowing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, regardless of age or cause, also is important. Typical symptoms of a heart attack include:
- pressure, squeezing, tightness, burning or aching in your chest, jaw, neck, shoulders, back or arms
- indigestion, nausea or vomiting shortness of breath
- a feeling of general weakness
- sudden sweating
- a fast, pounding heartbeat (this symptom is more common for women than men)
“The time window for treatment is critical to decreasing the amount of damage to the patient’s heart,” said Dr. Nicchi. “Here at Banner Boswell, our ‘door to EKG’ time is far less than 10 minutes for patients who present with chest pain. That allows us to quickly assess whether the patient is qualified to receive further intervention such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Banner Boswell’s Heart Center combines cutting-edge technology with the expertise of a dedicated team of healthcare professionals to provide an optimal level of care and support to patients and families. New technological advances include minimally invasive valve-replacement surgery and the latest in cardiac catheterization devices including the Angiosculpt cutting balloon device and arterial closure equipment. The latest technology is embraced continually as new clinical advancements emerge.
The benefits of minimally invasive heart procedures are many and why Banner Boswell is dedicated to this advanced care practice. Benefits include smaller incisions, less pain, quicker recovery times, a decrease in the amount of blood products/transfusions needed after surgery and lower incidences of atrial fibrillation (a common arrhythmia of the heart following heart surgery).
Banner Boswell’s Heart Center is a leader in comprehensive cardiac care delivery that encompasses all areas of the heart including coronary (plumbing), electrophysiology (electrical) and endovascular (all related blood vessels and arteries). Minimally invasive procedures in these areas of cardiac care offer a wide range of treatment options for patients. Dedicated staff stand ready at a moment’s notice to provide state-of-the art care from diagnosis through innovative treatments, specialized inpatient care, coordinated multi-phase rehabilitation and optimal recovery.
About Banner Boswell Medical Center
Banner Boswell Medical Center is a 501-bed, acute-care hospital located in Sun City, Ariz. Founded in 1970, Banner Boswell offers heart services, cancer care, orthopedics, neurology, women’s diagnostics, emergency care, and medical and surgical services. Banner Boswell is part of nonprofit Banner Health, the leading provider of health services in the Valley with 22 hospitals throughout the West. For more information about Banner Boswell, visit www.BannerHealth.com, keyword: Boswell.
