First Responder Has Firsthand Experience with Heart Care at Methodist Medical Center

As a first responder for Roane County EMS, paramedic Steve Renzo, 54, has helped many heart attack patients. But when it came to his own heart health, Renzo, who also has diabetes, missed the clues.

“I just had a persistent cough and I was weak. We all thought it was pneumonia. Nobody thought it was cardiac-related because there was no chest pain involved,” he said.

“As a paramedic, I’ve brought countless people to the cath lab at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge, but I never thought I would be a patient there,” said Renzo.

After about two months of coughing, Renzo went to the doctor.

CT Scan Shows Aortic Valve Calcification

“I went in for a chest X-ray thinking it was pneumonia, but they didn’t find anything. So they sent me for a CAT scan, and found my aortic valve was heavily calcified,” Renzo said. A computed axial tomography (CAT or CT) scan is an imaging test that can help diagnose symptoms of cardiac disease, among other conditions. Aortic valve calcification may be an early symptom of heart disease, even if there aren’t any other heart disease symptoms.

Renzo was sent to Methodist Medical Center’s cardiac catheterization lab and received care from Emily Rapstine, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon and vice chair of surgery at Methodist Medical Center. Catheterization uses a thin, hollow tube equipped with a camera that inserted into a blood vessel to the heart. It shows images of the heart muscle, valves and blood vessels.

“The heart cath at Methodist Medical Center showed I had two coronary arteries that were 99 percent blocked,” said Renzo. “And I needed a valve replacement.”

Heart Disease Symptoms and Diabetes

Dr. Rapstine explained that people with diabetes can have atypical symptoms of heart disease.

“Sometimes people with diabetes don’t have the normal warning signs of a heart attack. They can have unusual symptoms like cough reflux, numbness and pain in extremities, or problems seeing. Diabetes disrupts the normal warning signs,” she said.

Before Renzo could have needed bypass surgery and a valve replacement, Dr. Rapstine wanted to be sure his teeth were healthy because bacteria from teeth can get into the blood, causing severe complications.

“They admitted me on a Tuesday,” said Renzo. “On Friday I had my teeth pulled for gum disease. Then the following Wednesday I went in for open heart surgery.”

Family and Staff Help Patient Feel Calm and Safe

Renzo said the whole experience was difficult but made better by the staff who helped him. “I think nobody thought I was going to make it through the surgery. I’m glad they didn’t tell me that. They kept me calm.

“My family and the staff just kept me from freaking out. They were super patient. Everybody did just a phenomenal job. I couldn’t have asked for better care, from housekeeping to the nurses – everyone,” he said. “I suppose I should have been scared and a nervous wreck, but I wasn’t. They made me feel safe, and any time I hit that button [to call for help] they would come running.”

Methodist Medical Center’s Cardiac Care Team

Dr. Rapstine said cardiac care is a team effort.

 “I can’t speak highly enough about our nursing and surgical staff, our operating room staff and our physical and occupational therapists. It definitely takes a team to take care of these patients, and we have a good one,” she said.

“We have the latest technology for surgery, a supportive administration, and from a surgeon’s standpoint, I know that the six surgeons in the East Tennessee Cardiovascular Surgery Group stay on top of the latest technology and advancements. We provide patients the highest level of care.”

After two weeks at Methodist Medical Center, Renzo went to a residential rehabilitation center for a week and continued cardiac rehabilitation near his home in Harriman.

“My blood sugar is good now; I’ve got a handle on that. I hope to go back to work by the end of the month,” he said recently.

Renzo said he would recommend Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge to anyone facing cardiac surgery.

“God bless them,” he said. “I’ve always promoted Methodist Medical Center and said that’s a hospital you want to go to for cardiac care. Now I’m 100 percent convinced, MMC is the place to go to. God bless them all.”

For information on Methodist’s Services, please visit mmcoakridge.com.