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Quick, Collaborative Cardiac Care Saves Patient
“It felt like there was a dagger in my back,” said 47-year-old Noel Riley.
The Valley Stream resident awakened with chest pain and intermittent searing
pain across his back, and when the pain would not go away, he headed to Franklin
Hospital, where Mollie Williams, MD, made a diagnosis that would save his life.
Mr. Riley was experiencing an ascending (Type A) aortic dissection which, without
treatment, kills 90 percent of patients within 48 hours.
Aortic dissection happens when a tear inside the layered wall of the aorta
(the largest artery of the body) causes
bleeding into and along the wall,
forcing the layers apart. Symptoms
are varying and similar to those of
other heart problems — such as a
severe ripping or tearing pain from the
shoulder blades or back and extending
to the chest, loss of consciousness,
shortness of breath, sweating or
overall weakness — which can make
proper diagnosis difficult. Mr. Riley
“did not have chronic hypertension,
his EKG [electrocardiography] and
blood work were normal and he looked
healthy,” said Dr. Williams, who
treated him in Franklin’s Emergency
Department. Considering his symptoms, she ordered a computed tomography
(CT) scan, a test commonly used to diagnose aortic dissection, and discovered
the severity of his condition.
Mr. Riley required emergency surgery to prevent rupture and death — and
was transferred to LIJ Medical Center’s Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery.
There, a team of clinicians rushed him into surgery where S. Jacob Scheinerman,
MD, associate chairman of the department, removed the damaged segments of the
MANHASSET — For the second
consecutive year, the American
Heart Association (AHA) has
awarded North Shore University
Hospital its Platinum-Level
Recognition for being a “Fit-
Friendly” organization. The AHA’s
Fit-Friendly Company Program
recognizes employers who
encourage the health of their
employees and work to create a
physically fit and healthy work
environment.
“We’re proud to achieve
the American Heart Association’s
‘Fit-Friendly’ designation for a
second straight year,” said Susan
Somerville, the hospital’s executive
director. “We believe strongly that
as members of a healthcare team,
our employees have a responsibility
to set a positive example for the
patients they serve by maintaining a
healthy lifestyle.”
The AHA program honors
companies in several ways. “Gold”
ascending aorta, replaced the tissue with a graft and, along with Robert Palazzo,
MD, repaired the damaged aortic valve. “Mr. Riley’s Type A dissection, which
involves the root of the aorta, is the most dangerous type,” said Dr. Scheinerman.
“The key to his survival was how quickly Franklin’s team made a diagnosis and got
him to our operating room. Many people never even make it to the hospital.”
The risk factors for aortic dissection include a history of uncontrolled
hypertension, aortic aneurysm, a dilated aorta or congenital connective tissue
disorders such as Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos
syndrome, explained Dr. Scheinerman. Mr. Riley had
none of these risk factors.
As an orthotist (a specialist in the design of
orthopedic appliances), Mr. Riley was familiar with
the condition, but was shocked by the diagnosis.
“Dr. Williams’ ability to listen was pivotal to my
survival,” said Mr. Riley. Her quick actions to explore
all causes of his pain are the reason he made it
to surgery in time, and the collaboration of the
healthcare teams at Franklin Hospital and LIJ Medical
Center saved his life.
“Mr Riley’s case highlights the benefits
patients receive from the collaboration of North
Shore-LIJ hospitals,” said John Rohe, MD, director
of emergency medicine at Franklin. “Our facilities
truly work together to save lives.” Mr. Riley’s survival is also a testament to the
health system’s cardiac care and each hospital’s access to that care, wellevidenced
by Dr. Williams calling in the expertise of LIJ’s cardiac Emergency
Medical Services transfer team and Aortic Surgery Center physicians.
Mr. Riley has nothing but praise for the care he received at both Franklin
Hospital and LIJ Medical Center. “It was nothing short of excellent,” he said. “They
saved my life.”
American Heart Association Recognizes
North Shore University Hospital as “Fit-Friendly”
is the first tier of recognition and
“Platinum” is the advanced tier.
Recognition is valid for one year
and companies must renew annually
by completing a renewal form. The
AHA offers employers numerous
recommendations that enable them
to achieve Fit-Friendly recognition,
including: providing walking routes,
promoting walking programs and
allowing staff to wear athletic shoes
in the workplace on designated
“sneaker days.”
In addition to the Walk
to Paris (see p. 3, p. 47), NSUH
offers on-site wellness programs
such as Zumba and yoga fitness
classes, individualized nutrition
counseling and classes and wellattended
multidisciplinary health
and wellness fairs. The hospital
is also making strides in helping
employees select healthier food
options, by programming vending
machines to display selections’
nutritional content.
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