Cardiac Patient Has Thankful Reunion At CentraState, Freehold

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ — Mohammed Chaudhry says he is enjoying his "second life" at age 72 after treatment at CentraState Medical Center for a heart attack he suffered in May.

The retired computer IT professional and engineering graduate had a reunion with his care team at CentraState recently after he successfully completed both his cardiac treatment and rehab at the hospital. He is now back in action in his second career in real estate.

Quick responses to his emergency, starting with Chaudhry's wife, Musarat, and then speedy treatment at CentraState made it all possible, he said.

And what was unique about his treatment is that he was CentraState's first patient to receive Impella, the world’s smallest heart pump, to assist him through his health crisis.

The Heart Recovery Reunion Aug. 31 was packed with CentraState Medical Center’s doctors, nurses, employees and leadership, who were joined by state Sen. Vin Gopal and Freehold Borough Councilwoman Margaret Rogers, to honor Chaudhry, who lives in Jackson. Chaudhry also received a Senate Commendation from Gopal and a certificate signed by his medical and rehab team.

All celebrated his recovery from what was a life-threatening attack on May 25 for a man who had had a clean bill of health after a cardiologist visit several months earlier. He had passed his stress test at that time and his cholesterol levels were good, he recalls.

But on May 25, he said he knew something was wrong.

He made his breakfast, ate and began to sit at his computer to work.

"It was completely unexpected. I was shocked," he said.

He said he had chest pains. His hands felt numb. His vision darkened, too, he recalled.

His wife immediately called his primary care physician, with an office just five minutes from his home. He went there, and an EKG confirmed he had a heart attack. He was then was transported by ambulance in a little over 10 minutes to CentraState's emergency room.

That's when his team there went into action.

The team included Dr. Jatinchandra Patel, Medical Director of CentraState’s Cardiovascular Interventional Laboratory; Amy Quinlan, Director of Cardiovascular Services; Nicole Interrante, Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Team Leader; and Jesse Arango, Cardiovascular Radiology Tech.

Part of what made his care so immediate, the hospital said, was that Chaudhry was part of the hospital's early STEMI and shock activation program where the paramedics called the hospital from the field to get the Cardiac Catherization Lab and team ready to perform this life-saving treatment.

The team determined Chaudhry was in cardiogenic shock after suffering a heart attack. Chaudhry said he had a clogged artery that required stents.

CentraState's Cardiac Catheterization Lab immediately placed the Impella pump, a technology that allows the heart to rest and recover, to assist Chaudhry.

That procedure had a "door-to-balloon time" of only 24 minutes. That time far exceeded the highest performance standard of 50minutes, the hospital spokesperson noted.

After three days, the Impella was removed and Chaudhry’s heart function was "markedly improved," the hospital said. He was discharged the next day. Shortly after, he was enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation and has made a full recovery after several weeks of therapy.

Chaudhry said his therapy involved 15 minutes on a treadmill, 15 minutes on a bicycle and then other exercise using his hands and arms. He was monitored as he exercised. He said he expects to join a private gym now.

And Chaudhry is well aware of his good fortune.

First, he expressed great thanks to his wife. "I'm so thankful for her. She is so helpful to me every step of the way."

And, he said, "I am thankful to my God and to my team at CentraState Hospital. I'm not wasting a single minute."