CentraState - Healthy Directions

An Innovative Approach to Cardiac Care W hen 50-year-old Michael Barfield of Sayreville suffered his first heart attack in 2006, his life changed forever. To date, he has suffered three heart attacks, with his most recent attributed to a 90 percent blockage in one of his main coronary arteries. The staff at CentraState Medical Center continues to guide him every step of the way in his effort to overcome coronary artery disease. "My father and I each suffered a heart attack in our 40s," Michael says. "I knew I had to monitor my cholesterol and blood pressure regularly, but I didn't expect heart disease to plague me at such a young age." After Michael's first heart attack, he changed his lifestyle for the better. "My father passed away after his first heart attack, so after I survived my first one, I felt like I was given a second chance," Michael says. In early 2011, Michael's health took a turn for the worse when he lost his job and was no longer able to purchase his prescribed medication. "While I tried to eat healthy and exercise regularly, I was under an extreme amount of stress, which ultimately led to another heart attack," he explains. REDUCING PATIENT RISK After undergoing two traditional cardiac catheterization procedures following his first and second heart attacks, Michael opted to undergo a new, less invasive cardiac catheterization technique at CentraState in May 2011. "For years, interventional cardiologists have performed cardiac catheterizations by inserting a catheter into a patient's heart through the femoral artery in the groin area. With this approach and the aid of special balloons and stents, they're able to restore blood flow to the heart Jatinchandra Patel, DO, board-certifi ed radiologist 4 November/December 2011 muscle," says Jatinchandra Patel, DO, board-certified interventional radiologist with Garden State Heart Care and on the medical staff at CentraState. "Through a new approach, known as transradial cardiac catheterization, the catheter is inserted into the wrist in the radial artery instead of the groin, reducing recovery time and the risk of bleeding complications." While very common throughout Europe and Asia, less than 10 percent of cardiac catheterizations in the United States are performed via the trans- radial (wrist) approach. Dr. Patel was the first to utilize this procedure at CentraState and offers it as a routine approach to most of his patients. "All the current studies are leaning toward this being the preferred approach from a safety standpoint for patients," Dr. Patel says. "It can sometimes be a tedious procedure and requires extra time and skill, but it makes a huge difference in the lives of our patients, and thus more interventional cardiologists are learning this technique." STARTING OVER While Michael has made dramatic changes to his diet and exercise routine, he ultimately attributes his recovery to his physicians at CentraState. "Dr. Patel and my primary care physician, Laurence Weissman, MD, have guided me every step of the way," Michael says. "I can't say enough about these men and what they've done for me and my family." To learn more about cardiac care at CentraState, visit www.centrastate.com and select "Cardiology Services" or call (866) CENTRA7 (866-236-8727). HD Michael Barfi eld is enjoying daily life, including time with his daughter, Krista, after undergoing a minimally invasive transradial cardiac catheterization at CentraState. Healthy Directions

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