Gottlieb Curtails "Widow Maker"
THE BEST WORST DAY OF HIS LIFE
Heart Attack Victim Survives “Widow Maker” Thanks To New Technology
(MELROSE PARK, IL August 19, 2009) Skilled staff at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital could see the heart attack coming from more than a mile away. A new 12-lead electro-cardio-gram (EKG) used by the Leyden Township Fire Protection Department enabled paramedics to diagnose a heart attack in progress and alert the hospital. So when the paramedics brought Lester Krogh, 59, of Franklin Park, into Gottlieb’s Emergency Department by ambulance, a medical team of more than 20 specialists were ready for him.
“Mr. Krogh had what we call the widow maker – his right ventricle was 99.6 percent blocked,” said Ajanta De, MD, the Gottlieb cardiologist who led Lester’s cardiac team. “The Leyden Township paramedics, and their use of the 12-lead EKG, gave Lester the very best chance of survival.”
And that is why the worst day of his life may also have been the best.
Paramedics Garreth Thornley and Aaron Buckley had just completed training on the new 12-lead that morning. “Normally Franklin Park paramedics would respond to the call but because they were busy, it came to us,” said Thomas Rafferty, chief of the Leyden Fire Protection District. “Valuable time was saved because cardiac distress was immediately documented and alerted to Gottlieb.”
Krogh never suspected he was having a heart attack. “I had arm and chest pain for a few days, but I thought it was because I fell asleep in my recliner chair,” he said. “The pain woke me up that day. I dressed, took my dog for a walk, drank a cup of coffee and took an aspirin for the pain,” he said. “When the pain quickly got worse, I called 911.”
Taking the aspirin proved vital to Lester’s survival. “Dr. De told me that the 81 milligram aspirin I took may have saved my life because it thinned the blood so it could continue passing in the almost totally closed artery,” said Krogh. “Many coincidences added up to my being alive today.”
Krogh said he remembers very clearly everything that happened. “Dr . De was so kind and reassuring. I was talking away and I had no idea of the trouble I was in. Dr. De was directing everyone - it was like a ballet – they were moving gracefully and played a role in the performance of saving my life,” said Krogh.
From the time Krogh entered the hospital to the inflation of a balloon that opened his clogged artery, it took 54 minutes - much faster than the 90 minutes recommended by the American Heart Association’ coronary artery protocol. “I called the ambulance at 8:30 the morning and by the afternoon, my artery was unblocked and I was walking around my hospital room,” he said. “I am lucky to be alive.”
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