Life Saved in 24 Minutes

When Richard Silverman of South Whitehall Township, Pa., starting having chest discomfort, he thought it was acid reflux. “I took an antacid tablet and expected it to work right away,” the 62-year-old man says. But things got worse quickly. Soon he was in pain and drenched with sweat.

Silverman’s wife, Janet, realized something was seriously wrong. Despite her husband’s protest, she called 9-1-1. An ambulance arrived within minutes. Having received education from Lehigh Valley Hospital on how to use a 12-lead EKG, paramedics determined that Silverman was having a heart attack and started treatment.

In the ambulance, a paramedic called ahead to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest and spoke to emergency physician Marna Greenberg, D.O. After hearing the paramedic’s report, she activated the Alert which triggered emergency and heart specialists to prepare for Silverman’s arrival, saving precious minutes.

The heart attack was confirmed in the emergency room, and Silverman was rushed to the cardiac catheterization lab. Caregivers there were ready. Nainesh Patel, M.D., found that his heart’s “widow maker” artery was completely blocked. He opened it with a tiny balloon and inserted two metal stents to hold the artery open. This life-saving treatment took only 24 minutes from the time Silverman came through the emergency room doors. The national “gold standard” for this procedure is 90 minutes.

Silverman is grateful to his wife for calling 9-1-1, and the paramedics and Lehigh Valley Hospital staff for their quick and competent treatment which undoubtedly saved his life. “They were all wonderful and very professional,” he says.

He wants people to know that the best thing they can do when having chest discomfort or pain is to call 9-1-1. “Even if it’s not the classic chest-crushing symptom, you’re better off getting it checked out,” he says. Thanks to Lehigh Valley Hospital’s MI Alert for Heart Attacks, he’s alive and able to offer this advice.