The Fourth of July was a memorable day for Ken Lynch. It was the day he had his second heart attack. Ken played five straight games of basketball in the hot sun and then walked several blocks to watch the fireworks in Quakertown.

As the rockets exploded overhead, Ken broke out into cold sweats and felt as weak as a baby. The tall, thin, athletic man told his wife he wasn’t feeling well and wanted to go home. Fortunately, they had brought nitro-glycerin tablets. He took them, and it helped. They headed for the car, although walking was nearly impossible for Ken because of shortness of breath and weakness.

After lying down for several hours, he knew he had to go to the hospital. It took all of his strength to call his wife from another room. They went to the Emergency Department at Grand View Hospital, where it was confirmed that he was suffering a second heart attack.

Cardiologist Dr. Paul R. Hermany concluded that an artery in Ken’s heart was blocked. He scheduled a cardiac catheterization to confirm the presence of a blockage. The procedure was performed by Dr. J. Patrick Kleaveland, co-director of the David M. Flowers, MD, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Grand View. Dr. Kleaveland is also the medical director of the Lehigh Valley Hospital Cardiac Cath Lab and is very experienced in performing catheterization.

Dr. Kleaveland inserted a thin tube, called a catheter, into the large artery of Ken’s leg and advanced it to the coronary arteries of his heart. Using contrast dye and X-ray, Dr. Kleaveland was able to see the arteries and diagnose the blockage. In Ken’s case, a new blockage had developed at the site of his previous stent and needed to be reopened.

Dr. Kleaveland soon opened the blockage with a second catheter equipped with a small inflatable balloon. He then placed a stent, a small metal mesh tube, into the coronary artery and expanded the stent to provide support to the diseased artery. The metal mesh tube helps maintain blood flow in previously blocked cardiac arteries.

“Things went very well,” Dr. Kleaveland said. “The equipment and staff were excellent, and Ken was the perfect patient for this type of procedure. For the convenience of our patients, I am very pleased to offer cardiac catheterization at Grand View Hospital.”

Ken was pleased that he could get the heart procedure he needed so close to home. It made everything much easier for both him and his wife.

“They treated me really well,” Ken said. “I’m not much of a hospital person, so I’m glad to get in and out as fast as possible.” The procedure took only about two hours; Ken was released the next morning. The following day, he returned to his job and a few days later, he was working his regular 13-hour shifts and playing basketball with his 17- and 25-year-old sons.

“Everyone at Grand View was very professional,” he said. “I felt comfortable. I would definitely recommend Grand View as the place to go. I’ve felt fine ever since my heart procedure.”

Source: Annual Report 2006
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A lifetime of experience
Sue Meissner-Dengler, RN
Grand View Hospital

Registered nurse and science enthusiast Sue Meissner-Dengler jumped at the opportunity to work in Grand View’s new Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory when it opened last February. Sue, one of the nurses involved with Ken’s catheterization, has always enjoyed the scientific side of nursing. After receiving a bachelor’s of science degree in biology from Juniata College, she earned her nursing degree from Creighton University by completing an intensive one-year program. Sue also thrives on professional challenge. “I like being involved with people while learning something new,” she said. “I like to be inventive. At Grand View, Cath Lab nurses and technologists work closely with physicians and fully participate in the care of our patients.”