Fall 2024 5 After arriving at Riverside, Jean underwent coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery to restore her heart’s blood supply. During CABG, surgeons take healthy blood vessel grafts from the chest or leg and attach them below and above the narrowed coronary arteries. This creates a detour for blood to flow around the obstructions. Cardiothoracic surgeon Michael Frank, MD, performed the procedure. He explains why it can be a better option than angioplasty and stenting for the right patients. “Patients with complex coronary disease in crucial locations tend to do better long-term with bypass surgery compared to stents,” he says. “It can be safer and have better long-term results.” Caputo began her rehabilitation while still in the hospital at Riverside. She praised the hospital staff for their exceptional care throughout her inpatient stay. “I couldn’t have handpicked [a better team] to take care of me,” Caputo says. The journey back Caputo’s Riverside cardiologist recommended that she continue with outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) as part of her recovery. Cardiac rehab combines medically supervised exercise with hearthealthy education to help people recover after major heart events or surgeries. Caputo attended rehab three times a week, using treadmills and other exercise equipment. Gradually, she noticed her strength and stamina come back. “Slowly but surely, you realize you can do it,” Caputo says. “You can get back.” Amy Hornbuckle, BSN, RN, is the clinical nurse manager at Riverside Heart and Vascular Institute. She notes that, in addition to helping people get stronger, the cardiac rehab team provides risk-factor education and coaching to help people develop the tools they need to manage their heart disease. “A lot of our patients have risk factors, such as high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels,” she says. “Maybe they don’t eat heart-healthy and don’t know where to start. So a lot of our education focuses around nutrition.” Something else is gained in cardiac rehab—a sense of camaraderie among the participants. “Sometimes it sounds like coffee hour in here, with the patients chatting while they’re on the exercise equipment and discussing their lives and finding connections,” Hornbuckle says. Gardening again Caputo continues to get stronger and to take good care of her heart. She works out regularly with other seniors and applies the nutrition tips she learned in rehab in her kitchen. Last spring, she rototilled and planted her organic garden with tomatoes, peppers, artichokes, melons and more. Caputo is grateful for the care she received from her heart surgeon at Riverside. “The care you get there is excellent,” she says. “They took care of me.” Michael Frank, MD, Riverside cardiothoracic surgeon The help you need Riverside Heart and Vascular Institute has the expert providers and top technology to care for a wide range of conditions. Find out more about the institute at RiversideHealthcare.org/heart.
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