University Hospitals expands cardiac care at UH Lake West

Introducing leading-edge cardiac care to Lake County is a goal that came to fruition last month with the newly unveiled cardiac catheterization lab within the University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute at UH Lake West Medical Center.

“By heavily investing in state-of-the-art equipment, putting in place an infrastructure of technology and recruiting top-tier talent to provide cardiac procedures, UH has identified Lake West as a center of excellence,” says Dr. Justin Dunn, who, as Regional Director of the Valve & Structural Heart Disease Center at University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, oversees the program at UH Lake West. “Our team of interventional cardiologists can provide the latest procedures that were previously only available to patients at the main campus in downtown Cleveland.”

Enhanced Imaging = Enhanced Outcomes

Dr. Dunn explains the lab is well-equipped with fluoroscopy imaging, which includes a large viewing monitor for coronary, structural and peripheral procedures.

“Essentially, this is a moving, real-time X-ray that allows us to observe the movement and function of the heart,” he says. “It also helps us guide a catheter or treatment device into place.”

Since this is the newest equipment on the market, he says the exposure to radiation is far lower than other diagnostic imaging modalities.

Minimally Invasive Approach to Care

As an interventional cardiologist, Dr. Dunn specializes in diagnosing and treating cardiac conditions with minimally invasive procedures.

“One of the more common ones that we can now do here in Lake County is called a left atrial appendage occlusion, or ‘Watchman’ procedure, for patients with atrial fibrillation,” he says. “A catheter is inserted into the groin and guided to the heart’s left atrium, where we position a parachute-shaped implant to prevent blood clots from forming.”

Another procedure now made possible in the lab is a transcatheter aortic valve replacement, (TAVR). Used to treat aortic stenosis, or narrowed valves with restricted blood flow, Dr. Dunn and his colleagues can thread a catheter through the groin to the heart and replace the valve, avoiding the need for open-heart surgery.

Percutaneous mitral valve repair, where a catheter places a small device into the heart’s left atrium to stop blood from leaking, is another alternative to open heart surgery now performed onsite at UH Lake West.

“PFO (percutaneous patent foramen ovale) closure has become more refined as a catheter-based approach to closing a hole between the heart’s two upper chambers, and avoiding recurring strokes,” says Dr. Dunn, who is the first to perform this procedure at UH Lake West Medical Center. 

“In addition to percutaneous approaches, the lab also gives us increased capacity for coronary, peripheral and EP (electrophysiology) procedures that evaluate and treat the heart’s electrical activity,” he says. “For instance, we are able to more effectively treat patients with pacemakers locally.”

When traditional surgery is needed, Dr. Dunn reports UH Lake West will be performing cutting edge cardiothoracic surgeries. In situations where both percutaneous and surgical approaches may be needed, a state-of-the-art hybrid OR will be completed later this year. 

“We just finished the cath lab renovation, which took several months, and the next substantial renovation is already in the works,” he says. “The fully equipped hybrid OR will let us perform surgery immediately if needed, without having to transfer a patient elsewhere. All the necessary equipment will be in place for a fully functional hybrid OR for complex cases.”

Upgrading the Patient Experience

The new lab includes a beautiful central lounge for patients’ family members to relax in during treatment, as well as pre- and post-treatment spaces.

“We want our patients to feel comfortable and cared for with a bright, friendly environment,” he says. “For us as cardiologists, it’s thrilling to bring advanced cardiac care close to home for our patients. Accessibility and convenience are components of our mission to make the patient experience the best it can be.”

The UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute at University Hospitals Lake West Medical Center is located at 36000 Euclid Avenue in Willoughby. For more information call 440-953-9600 or visit UHhospitals.org/LakeHeart.