WakeMed Cary Hospital now provides advanced cardiac intervention services for patients with ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). This specialized care and response plan for acute heart attacks re-opens blocked coronary arteries, reduces the time to treatment, and improves outcomes for STEMI patients.
The hospital treated its first Code STEMI patient, transported via EMS, on November 2. Dr. Pratik Desai from Cary Cardiology alongside the WakeMed Heart & Vascular Labs support team performed the procedure and re-opened the patient’s artery in 33 minutes.
The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology recommended “door to balloon” time to treatment is under 90 minutes.
“This new service is beneficial for the residents of Cary, southwestern Wake County and surrounding communities by decreasing the travel time it takes to reach a hospital capable of re-opening blocked arteries and restoring blood flow to damaged heart muscle,” said Doug Trocinski, MD, emergency medicine physician and chief medical officer at WakeMed Cary Hospital. “Time is muscle when it comes to heart attacks, and this service will save lives and improve the quality of life for patients.”