A Heights-area man is the first in Houston to receive a new specialty stent during a minimally-invasive procedure at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital. The stent is designed to treat the narrowing of arteries that occurs when plaque is in a main artery as well as in arteries in the side branch of the heart, a condition called bifurcation lesions.
The Tryton Side Branch Stent is a two-prong-style stent. Using a catheter, a conventional stent is placed into the main vessel while the connected stent is placed in the side branch artery. The system was approved by the FDA in March.
“I had been having chest discomfort for a while, but it would only happen after a meal. One night it got so bad, I decided to go to the Emergency Center at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights. That’s when the doctors told me I had seven blocked arteries,” said Norman Lynch.
“Some of Mr. Lynch’s blockages could be treated with traditional stents. However, he also had a bifurcation lesion. Before this new stent, we would either have had to use two separate stents, or risk those side arteries shutting down,” said Philip Haas, MD, a cardiologist affiliated with Memorial Hermann Greater Heights and McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. “Bifurcation lesions are fairly common in patients with coronary artery disease, but until now, we didn’t have a great option for treating them. This stent gives us a much better solution for successful treatment.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is still the leading cause of death for American men and women. Every 43 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a heart attack. Coronary stents are commonly used to widen arteries and allow better blood flow, thereby reducing the chance of a heart attack.
“I may be getting older, but I haven’t given up on my dreams. I want to make sure I’m as healthy as possible so I can fulfill those dreams and leave a legacy for my grandchildren,” said Lynch. “I had no idea how bad my arteries were, and I am so happy I came to the emergency room that day.”
Memorial Hermann Greater Heights has earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Chest Pain Certification. Its comprehensive cardiovascular program offers access to a wide range of specialized services, clinical excellence and state-of-the-art technology to treat heart and vascular disease.