Danbury Hospital Begins Angioplasty To Treat Heart Attacks

DANBURY — Danbury Hospital reached a regional medical milestone last week, completing its first angioplasty procedure for an acute heart attack, and breaking the longstanding cycle that once required such patients to go to other hospitals, potentially experiencing delays in care.

The achievement signifies that the hospital has implemented its full-service program for advanced cardiovascular care — which includes cardiac, thoracic, and vascular services — to address the nation’s leading killer of both women and men. Prior to the start of primary angioplasty services, the hospital performed more than one dozen elective angioplasties on patients from Connecticut and New York in October.

Recently the hospital also announced the naming of The Praxair Regional Heart and Vascular Center, recognizing a $4 million gift by Praxair Foundation Inc. This largest corporate foundation gift ever received by Danbury Hospital — and Praxair’s largest donation given in the company’s history — will further assist the hospital in improving its facilities and programs for cardiovascular patients, following an accelerated year of progress to establish open-heart surgery and angioplasty services.

“This is a very proud and gratifying time to serve Danbury and surrounding communities in Connecticut and nearby New York,” said Frank J. Kelly, president and CEO, Danbury Hospital and Danbury Health Systems.

“Because early detection and care is critical to healthy outcomes, Danbury Hospital has worked tirelessly for many years to bring these life-saving medical services to the region. Success is due, in great part, to the support of our communities. More than 30,000 people provided original signatures and letters of support during our campaign. Hundreds of others told their personal stories at a public hearing and/or advocated on our behalf. It’s been a long road, and now we start a new beginning to better serve our community,” Mr Kelly said.

Danbury Hospital performed its first open-heart surgery in January 2005, and has since completed more than 125 procedures, including heart bypass, and valve replacement and repair. The state Office of Health Care Access granted a Certificate of Need in July 2004 to establish the program, following several initiatives to reevaluate issues of quality and access to services statewide.

Keith A. Hovan, chief operating officer, Paul B. Iannini, MD, chairman, department of medicine, and Andrew M. Keller, MD, chief, cardiology — who led the initiative since 2002 — recruited Hal Wasserman, MD, as director of interventional cardiovascular services and the cardiac catheterization laboratory, and Mark Warshofsky, MD, as associate director; along with Michael Frymus, MD, as chief of cardiothoracic surgery; and cardiovascular surgeon Eugene Fernandes, MD, to develop the angioplasty and cardiothoracic surgery programs.

“We offer exceptionally trained teams who will support these highly talented physicians to provide treatment for acute and chronic heart disease with catheter-based techniques and the latest advances in cardiothoracic surgery. Together, they have brought more than 40 years of experience in interventional cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery at major tertiary care medical centers to build a center of excellence in Danbury that offers exceptional care,” said Mr Hovan.

The hospital also announced plans recently to host the inaugrual “Heart Parade” titled “Heartbeat of Our Community.” This unique exhibit will feature more than 50 whimsical hearts decorated by local artists. The three-dimensional hearts, designed by CowParade, creator of the popular international shows of the same name, are expected to draw local and regional attention.

“‘The Heartbeat of Our Community’ strikes us as something people of all ages will enjoy. Of course, we’re also excited about the connection of the exhibit to our new cardiovascular center and to prevention and heart health education, a key area of emphasis for our programs moving forward,” Mr Kelly said. The exhibit is co-sponsored by Ridgefield’s Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum.