Health Direct - Summer 2018 - 8

Retired Pastor Thankful for

Skilled Heart
Care in Salina
Bypass surgery and cardiac rehab
got him back to the life he loves
By Meghan Klaassen

A

fter a recent stroke and being
diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, 72-year-old Leroy Pralle,
a retired pastor from Salina,
thought nothing of it when he shared
with his cardiologist that he tired easily
and his tolerance for regular activity was
not what it used to be. However, his cardiologist was concerned that these could
be symptoms of an underlying issue and
ordered a stress test to evaluate the
strength and endurance of Pralle's heart.
A failed stress test led to a heart
catheterization, which led to a discovery of coronary artery disease. Two
major arteries of Pralle's heart were
80 percent and 70 percent blocked.
Though he never had classic symptoms
such as chest pain, shortness of breath
or dizziness, his decreased activity
tolerance and increased fatigue were
enough to signal an issue. Pralle had a
double bypass surgery within the week
and was saved from experiencing a fullblown heart attack.

The Path of Least Resistance

Leroy Pralle deer hunting
weeks after surgery.

8

srhc.com

An average heart rate is between 60
to 100 beats per minute. Each pump
of the heart supplies nutrients and
oxygen-rich blood to the body's organs

and tissues, as well as to the heart
itself. When plaque builds to the extent
that it restricts blood flow to and from
the heart, the body is at risk of a heart
attack and it is necessary to either stent
the blocked arteries or to create alternative circulation routes.
Heart specialists told Pralle and
his wife that his two blocked arteries
would be best addressed with bypass
surgery. Cardiothoracic surgeon Richard
Toon, M.D., of Salina Regional's Heart
Center performed the surgery, assisted
by Justin Long, P.A. Using endoscopic
vein harvesting, a vein was taken from
Pralle's leg and an artery from his chest
wall were grafted above and below the
blockage points, providing two new
paths for blood flow. "Blood chooses the
path of least resistance," says Angela
Bogart, nurse practitioner for the Heart
Center. "When
the blood can
no longer move
through the
blocked artery, it
follows the grafted
pathway around
the blockage."
The same
is true for the
Richard Toon, M.D.
http://www.srhc.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Health Direct - Summer 2018
