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Revolutionizing Heart Care
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Southwest's Heart & Vascular Center has celebrated many achievements over the years, including the first open-heart surgery in 1992 by long-time cardiac surgeon Albert Krause, MD, who also pioneered a surgical technique used across the world for implanting heart valves from pigs. Here is Dr. Krause (center) at the Firstenburg Tower opening in January 2007. |
"It was July 18, 1984, and we had two cases that day," starts Thomas Kovaric, MD, when asked what he remembers about Southwest's first catheterization laboratory. Without missing a beat, Dr. Kovaric recalls the exact date of this milestone in his career and the role he played in bringing the technology to our community.
"When we had a patient with a heart attack or chest pain, we really couldn't treat them well," says Dr. Kovaric. "We thought it would be in everyone's best interest to get permission to build our own cath lab."
Dr. Kovaric was on the original committee that fought for state approval to build a cath lab at Clark County's primary hospital. Now 25 years and more than 25,000 heart procedures later, Southwest's cath labs in the Heart & Vascular Center boast some of the most advanced technologies available, with specialists who use less invasive techniques and equipment to restore normal blood flow to all parts of the body.
"It was so nice when people could finally be treated here," says Pat Jimerfield, RN, one of two Southwest nurses who has worked in the cath labs since that very first day. "Back then, so many of our patients had never traveled to Portland, and they really didn't want to go over there to be in a hospital." [Story continues below.]
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Thomas Kovaric, MD was on the original committee that fought for state approval to build a cath lab at Clark County's primary hospital.
What is cardiac catherization? Click here to learn more.
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"Catheter-based technology is evolving rapidly to include even more uses, including life-saving neurology and radiology interventions. We can now place stents in virtually any artery or vein in the body."
—Margo Kozinski, MD, medical director of Southwest's cardiac catheterization labs. |
A Winning Record
When Southwest opened its first cath labs in 1984, the medical pioneers of the hospital's cardiac program were limited to performing diagnostic procedures only. Over the past two decades, Southwest's team of experts has grown to include an elite group of specialists who are fully equipped to diagnose and treat problems in arteries throughout the entire body, such as removing blood clots in the brain or repairing aortic aneurysms in the chest and abdomen.
"Catheter-based technology is evolving rapidly to include even more uses, including life-saving neurology and radiology interventions," explains Margo Kozinski, MD, medical director of Southwest's cardiac catheterization labs. "We can now place stents in virtually any artery or vein in the body."
Southwest's Heart & Vascular Center has celebrated many achievements over the years, including the first open-heart surgery in 1992 by long-time cardiac surgeon Albert Krause, MD, who also pioneered a surgical technique used across the world for implanting heart valves from pigs. And still today, Southwest remains on the cutting edge of treatments and research.
"I can remember a time when there wasn't anything we could do for a heart attack patient except make them comfortable," recalls Jimerfield. "What we have now really leaves you a bit awestruck. You have to remind yourself to close your mouth because it's just so amazing!"
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"I can remember a time when there wasn't anything we could do for a heart attack patient except make them comfortable. What we have now really leaves you a bit awestruck. You have to remind yourself to close your mouth because it's just so amazing!" —Pat Jimerfield, RN |
Click here to return to the Heart & Vascular Center's main webpage.
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