Cnrstn 09.10 - Winthrop University Hospital

Summer/Fall • 2010Institute for Heart CarePatient Breathes Easier Thanks to Advanced,Minimally Invasive Cardiology TechniqueIt only makes headlines when it suddenlyclaims the life of a young athlete, butHypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) –a genetic cardiac disease – is actuallythe most common cause of sudden cardiacdeath in people under 30.Characterized by excessive thickeningof the heart muscle, whichmakes it difficult for the heart topump blood effectively, the disease isincreasingly recognized as a cause ofheart failure, chest pain, shortness ofbreath and premature death in theteen and young adult population.Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and other cardiac conditionsreceive expert care in Winthrop’s John D. Miller Interventional CardiologyPavilion. The state-of-the-art center was created thanks to a $1,000,000 giftfrom long-time member of the Hospital’s Board of Directors, John D. Miller. Ithas enabled Winthrop to better accommodate the increasing number of patientsseeking help from the Hospital’s expert team of interventional cardiologists.The John D. Miller Interventional Cardiology Pavilion features a technologicallyupgraded Cardiac Catheterization Center, including four state-of-the-sciencecardiac catheterization labs and a highly sophisticated Electrophysiology Centerdesigned to meet the increasing demand for interventional cardiology servicesat Winthrop.“We are extremely grateful for Mr. Miller’s continued support of ourHospital,” said John F. Collins, Winthrop’s President & CEO. “His extraordinarygift has benefited countless individuals who have come to Winthrop forsuperior cardiac care and will continue to do so in the years to come.”Present at the dedication of the John D. Miller Interventional CardiologyPavilion at Winthrop were (l.-r.) John D. Miller; Kevin Marzo, MD, Chief of theDivision of Cardiology: John F. Collins, Winthrop’s President & CEO; Todd Cohen,MD, Director of Electrophysiology and the Pacemaker/Arrhythmia Center;Srihari Naidu, MD, Director of Winthrop’s Cardiac Catheterization Laboratoryand the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center; and Charles M. Strain, Chairmanof Winthrop’s Board of Directors.What’s more, HCM often goes undiagnosedwell into adulthood either withno symptoms, progressively worseningsymptoms, or symptoms that don’teven begin to appear until middle ageor later in life.For several years, Wanda Sachsexperienced pain and tightness in herchest during normal daily activities on aregular basis. In fact, the 62-year-oldresident of Farmingdale couldn’t walkone block without feeling short ofbreath – symptoms classified by theAmerican Heart Association (AHA) as“Class III,” where patients experiencemarked limitations during regular activitiesand are only comfortable at rest.After comprehensive evaluations bya primary care physician and lung specialistleft her still without a diagnosis,Ms. Sachs turned to Winthrop- affiliatedcardiologist Matthew T. Chengot, MD.Dr. Chengot administered an echocardiogram,which revealed Ms. Sachs’enlarged heart muscle. Well in tunewith the warning signs of HCM thanksto his connection to Winthrop’s Institutefor Heart Care, Dr. Chengot promptlyreferred Ms. Sachs to Winthrop’sHypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)Center – Long Island’s first and onlyHCM Center – for treatment.Under the leadership of renownedHCM expert Srihari S. Naidu, MD,Director of Winthrop’s CardiacCatheterization Center, Winthrop’sHCM Center has been designated aCenter of Excellence by the nationalHypertrophic CardiomyopathyAssociation. The Center’s multidisciplinaryteam of cardiologists,internal medicine specialists, electrophysiologists,surgeons and pediatriccardiologists provide comprehensive,expert care for HCM patients includ-(continued on page 19)Cornerstone3