Cardiac Services at Terre Haute Regional Hospital
At Terre Haute Regional Hospital cardiologists use these tests and exams to diagnose heart problems and recommend treatment for patients.
When it comes to treating heart attacks, every minute matters.
A new Cardiac Alert protocol at Terre Haute Regional Hospital is shaving those minutes to a minimum.
When a patient arrives at a community critical access facility with chest pain, the physician will be able to make one phone call to the Regional Hospital Emergency Department that could save precious minutes. Once arriving at Regional, the patient will completely bypass the emergency room and go straight to the hospital’s heart catheterization lab, where physicians will treat the heart with an angioplasty if needed.
A recent study showed that an emergency angioplasty, done within 90 minutes of a heart attack, cuts the risk of death and complications by about 40 percent.
The hospital hopes its “Cardiac Alert Response Effort” will increase the chances for surrounding communities and rural residents to receive angioplasty treatment within the critical 90 minute time frame.
Cardiac Catheterization
A thin plastic catheter is inserted into an artery or vein then advanced into the chambers of the heart or coronary arteries. This procedure measures blood pressure within the heart, how much oxygen is in the blood and the pumping ability of the heart muscle. A flat panel cath lab provides high-resolution images.
Advanced Treatments
Timely treatment of a heart attack or stroke is critical for minimizing long-term damage. The newest treatments offer more hope for recovery and improved quality of life.
Beating Heart Surgery
The beating heart surgical technique makes it possible to perform a bypass without stopping the heart or placing the patient on a heart-lung machine. Patients benefit from fewer blood transfusions, a decreased risk of stroke and a shorter hospital stay.
Angioplasty
A catheter with a tiny balloon is entered into the blocked artery then gently inflated to open blockages. A stent may be inserted to keep the artery from closing again. Studies show heart attack survival is improved when treated with coronary angioplasty. Patients benefit from access to this lifesaving care close to home.
TMR
Do you or someone you know live with severe chest pain even with minimal activity? If you’ve tried surgical and drug treatment options for angina and still have chronic chest pain, there’s new hope at Terre Haute Regional Hospital. It’s called TMR, or transmyocardial revascularization. A cardiac surgeon at Terre Haute Regional Hospital uses this innovative procedure to treat the heart muscle, and relieve chronic chest pain. You or someone you know might be a candidate for this advanced procedure.
Patients that are candidates for TMR usually have severe chest pain, often even at rest. They may or may not have had a previous heart surgery. If you would like to listen to patients that have been treated with TMR, click here.
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