H E A RT & VA S C U L A R NEWS Fa l l 2 0 1 2
f r o m t h e Up s tat e H e a rt a n d Va s c u l a r C e n t e r , Up s tat e Un i v e r s i t y H o s p i ta l
impella device aSSiStS patientS with Severe heart diSeaSe ardiologists at Upstate are using a new pumping device to extend the lives of patients with severe forms of heart disease. Patients suffering heart failure, and those whose hearts are too weak to tolerate angioplasty are candidates for the device called Impella®.
C Gregory Fink MD
One Of new YOrk State’S tOp heart SurgeOn practiceS at upState or the last two years Upstate University Hospital’s Gregory Fink MD was ranked as one of the top performing cardiac surgeons in New York State. According to the NYS Department of Health cardiac services report, he and his team have lead Upstate’s Cardiac Surgery Service to continue outperforming other hospitals in New York State.
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From 2006 t0 2008, Dr. Fink, Chief of Cardiac Surgery, operated on 252 patients. He was one of four surgeons in the state with a significantly lower than average mortality rate. The latest report published in February of this year states that he operated on 274 patients in 2007-2009. Once again he was ranked among the top surgeons in the state. ♥
Heart & Vascular Center
“It’s for the really, really sick patients, for whom there is no alternative,” says Kozman, director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Upstate.
David Grugan was just such a patient earlier this year. The 62-year-old Auburn man said he had come close to death twice. He Doctors insert the pump A catheter in the aorta was grateful to Dr. is used to insert a pump. through a catheter that Kozman and the enters the heart through its main Impella. After a heart attack in artery, the aorta. The pump is 2009, Grugan had four stents about the size of a triple A placed to prevent blockages in battery. It spins rapidly, like a his coronary arteries. Later, Luna corkscrew, propelling blood Bhatta MD, director of the backward from the left ventricle Electrophysiology Laboratory, out to the body to maintain implanted a defibrillator that circulation. would automatically restart his heart if it stopped beating. Hani Kozman MD says some patients require the Impella Months later, he began having during a medical crisis such as a very limiting chest pain and severe heart attack. Other trouble breathing. He was found patients are considered high-risk to have additional blockages for repairs to their coronary forming in his coronary arteries, arteries, and the Impella is however with his weak heart placed before the patients function, these would be risky. undergo their procedure. The Kozman spoke with Grugan disposable pumps, which may about his options, and Grugan said he appreciated the doctor’s remain for a few hours up to Continued on page 4 several days, connect to monitors that provide the Syracuse New York electrical source.