An unexpected phone call leads to a life-saving procedure
As a regular at his local gym, Mukesh Goel considered himself a healthy person. “I was quite regular at the gym, walking and doing some weights,” Goel said. “It felt like everything was okay.”
That changed one day while he was out walking with a friend. Goel became winded. At the same time, his friend received an unexpected phone call from University Health cardiologist Paramdeep Baweja, MD. Handing the phone to Goel, the friend introduced him to Dr. Baweja. Almost immediately, the seasoned cardiologist noticed something was wrong.
“I immediately noticed a difference in our conversation,” Baweja recalled. “Mukesh couldn't keep up full sentences. He was gasping for air between words." Dr. Baweja then asked him, "Are you alright?”
Dr. Baweja recommended Goel schedule an appointment at University Health for a coronary calcium test – a non-invasive screening that measures the amount of calcium buildup in the coronary arteries. The screening results raised the suspicion for significant coronary artery disease (CAD), requiring Dr. Baweja and his team at University Health’s cardiac cath lab, to act fast.
They performed a cardiac angiogram, inserting a thin tube through the patient’s wrist and guiding it into his heart and coronary artery. The test revealed a 99% blockage of an artery in his heart, often referred to as, “the widowmaker.”
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“The artery that supplies the front of the heart is often referred to as the widowmaker. It brings blood to a
large part of the heart muscle, and if it occludes it can cause a massive heart attack that can kill people,”
Dr. Baweja explains.
“Typically, these blockages get fixed by putting a balloon inside the blocked artery and inflating the balloon. This pushes calcium away and opens a path for blood to flow again,” Baweja said. Once the calcium is broken up the balloon is removed, leaving the permanent stent in place to support the artery. It is a precise procedure, one that Dr. Baweja and his team do frequently.
“We are a heart center and we are receiving patients who know their heart is in trouble,” Baweja said. “We are seeing multiple patients every day.”
The procedure was a success. Goel felt better right away. “It was immediate relief because the artery was open,” he said.
“I felt so good. And I said, My God, what a difference it makes.”
When it comes to recognizing heart problems, Dr. Baweja emphasizes the importance of listening to your body and noticing any changes. “Be in tune with your body,” he said. “If things start to change, don't ignore it.”
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Symptoms and warning signs of a heart problem:
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To learn more about our cardiology services at University Health Cardiology Clinic, call 816.404.1225.
To contact University Health Lakewood Cardiology Clinic, call 816.404.9029.