Baptist Health cardiologist Salil Patel has performed the first procedure in Northeast Florida using Boston Scientific’s Synergy Megatron stent during a recent coronary procedure to eliminate blockages in a patient’s heart.
While stents are a common tool in this type of procedure, the Synergy Megatron stent is the first to be purpose-built for large, proximal vessels — those that are closest to the aorta. These arteries present challenges because they are often calcified, can vary in size in some places and are more “stiff” than other arteries.
In the past, patients with blocked arteries might need bypass surgery, which is more invasive and requires more recovery time. Cardiologists are now able to use stents in some of these patients. This new advanced stent is ideal for procedures used to widen blocked or narrowed arteries. These procedures are less invasive and allow patients to leave the hospital sooner and heal faster.
The first patient in Northeast Florida to receive the Synergy Megatron stent first came to Baptist Medical Center Beaches with shortness of breath and heart pain, where it was determined she’d had a small heart attack. Further diagnosis showed severe blockage in the main artery and the two major arteries branching from the main artery. This Y-shaped blockage is more challenging to treat. Her heart function was declining rapidly, and she reached a point where she was no longer a candidate for heart surgery.
Patel felt she could be treated with a complex stent procedure.
“She was declining fast,” said Patel. “We reviewed all the treatment options available and felt we could be successful [with this new stent].”
The procedure went well, and the patient has returned to her normal activities.
Baptist Heart Hospital is Northeast Florida’s only freestanding hospital for heart and vascular care and is the centerpiece of Baptist Health’s top-ranked heart and vascular program.
