Beating “The Widowmaker”: Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan lab manager discusses procedure that saved his life
George reflects on Dr. Nguyen's efforts, saving him from becoming a statistic of "the windowmaker," a testament to the power of medical intervention.
Its name is “The Widowmaker.”
That is what physicians call the blockage that George Patten, manager of laboratory services for Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan, was suffering from when he sought out the services of Dr. Hinh Nguyen, renowned for his work in a particular niche of cardiovascular treatments.
Patton’s journey began in early February, with a series of exams with urologists and cardiologists, plus a heart catheter test, which would ultimately lead to one cardiologist telling Patten that he needed a double bypass.
Patten opted for a second opinion.
“I have always received exceptional care at (Methodist Hospital) Metropolitan,” Patten said. “I told my wife to take me to Metropolitan. I was advised by several staff members to ask for a consult with Dr. Nguyen. I was told he has great outcomes and is one of the best cardiologists in the country.”
Which is what Patten needed. Ninety five percent of Patten’s left anterior descending artery — the main artery at the front wall of the heart — was blocked. Heart attacks from such blockages are what’s often referred to as “the big one.” Depending on how soon the blockage is treated, your survival rate is anywhere between 90 percent and less than 10 percent, hence its non-medical title as “The Widowmaker.”
Recalled Patten: “Dr. Nguyen came into my room and reviewed the previous heart (catheter test) and stated, ‘I can fix this.’ I was both shocked and elated.”
Nguyen used percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to place the stents in Patten’s heart. The procedure calls for inserting a thin with a balloon at the tip in the arm or groin. Once the tip reaches the blockage, the balloon is inflated and opens up the blood vessels. Nguyen is well known for his work with PCI, and for his success using it to treat severe artery blockages.
Three stents using PCI and more than four months later, Patten is still doing well.
“I am so thankful for Dr. Nguyen,” Patten said. “He saved me from a pending heart attack and a double bypass. This was a life-changing event for me.”