[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/07\/tim-broken-heart-syndrome\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/07\/tim-broken-heart-syndrome\/","headline":"Tim’s Story: One Man’s Recovery from ‘Broken Heart Syndrome’","name":"Tim’s Story: One Man’s Recovery from ‘Broken Heart Syndrome’","description":"Tim Valentine of St. Marys still can\u2019t believe what started out as a simple ear surgery turned into a much larger medical emergency. Learn more about his story. ","datePublished":"2018-07-06","dateModified":"2023-04-17","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","name":"Heart and Vascular Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/heart-and-vascular-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/01_HEARTFAILURE.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/01_HEARTFAILURE.jpg","height":325,"width":751},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/07\/tim-broken-heart-syndrome\/","about":["Heart and Vascular Health","UPMC Stories"],"wordCount":917,"articleBody":"The Challenge: Sudden Onset of Broken Heart SyndromeTim Valentine of St. Marys still can\u2019t believe what started out as a simple ear surgery turned into a much larger medical emergency.Tim went in to UPMC Altoona on January 10, 2018 to have a scheduled surgery to repair a perforated ear drum. He expected a somewhat simple procedure without many roadblocks. Little did he know, when he awoke, he would have undergone a life-saving heart procedure.Tim appeared to be fine leading up to his ear drum surgery. However, once Elliott J. Bilofsky, DO, and his team began operating, Tim\u2019s oxygen levels dropped severely.\u201cMy ENT surgeon said I was actually purple when he looked at me,\u201d Tim explains. Doctors could not get Tim\u2019s oxygen to rise above 80 percent and immediately intubated Tim, still unsure as to what the issue was.One of Many Reasons to Choose UPMC Altoona:\u00a0The UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Altoona offers access to the latest diagnostic procedures, evidence-based therapies, and leading-edge treatments.Our high-volume cardiac catheterization laboratory, advanced heart failure program, and robust vascular surgery program help to set us apart.\u00a0 Explore more reasons to choose UPMC Altoona at UPMCAltoona.org\/Reasons.The Path to UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute Consulting Tim\u2019s wife throughout the process, as Tim was still under anesthesia, Dr. Bilofsky and the anesthesiologist ordered an urgent echocardiogram \u2013 an ultrasound test that assesses the heart\u2019s pumping function and ejection fraction.Results showed Tim\u2019s ejection fraction was 10 percent. An ejection fraction, or EF, is a measurement that allows doctors to evaluate the efficiency of the main pumping chamber of the heart. An EF represents the percentage of blood pumped out of the left ventricle each time the heart beats, with a normal range being between 55 and 70 percent.Tim Valentine was treated at UPMC Altoona.An urgent cardiac consultation was requested. Luckily, George Jabbour, MD, a cardiologist and director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at UPMC Altoona, was at Tim\u2019s bedside within five minutes.RELATED: Breakthrough in Heart Transplants Is a Game-Changer for Patients.\u00a0Dr. Jabbour rushed Tim to the cardiac catheterization lab for an emergency catheterization. Time was of the essence, as Tim\u2019s oxygen levels dropped to 50 percent and his blood pressure was extremely low, indicating that he was going into a deep shock state.Tim was brought into the catheterization lab less than 30 minutes later. Heart catheterization confirmed that although Tim\u2019s arteries were clear of blockages, his heart was only pumping at 10 percent.The Solution: A Temporary Heart Assist Device Dr. Jabbour diagnosed Tim with \u201cbroken heart syndrome,\u201d also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or stress cardiomyopathy, which occurs when a heart, overwhelmed by a stressful event, suddenly becomes stunned. This leads to a significant drop in blood pressure and compromises the delivery of blood to vital organs. Swift treatment for patients with broken heart syndrome is essential to increase the likelihood of a full recovery.Dr. Jabbour immediately placed a small pump, called the Impella\u00ae, into Tim\u2019s heart to aid the left ventricle while his heart recovered from the shock. This pump, a new technology available locally at UPMC Altoona, imitates the normal heart functions, doing the work for the ailing heart while waiting for it to recover.\u00a0 Dr. Jabbour was confident that Tim would be recovering in about 24 to 48 hours.Tim awoke in the ICU the next afternoon, completely unaware that heart surgery had occurred. Dr. Jabbour removed the pump 24 hours after it had been placed, and Tim\u2019s heart function subsequently recovered. Initially feeling a little shocked at what had transpired while he was under anesthesia, Tim quickly found some humor in the situation, saying, \u201cwhen Dr. Bilokfsky came in to check on me, I jokingly asked him what had happened. I came in for ear surgery and woke up to find out they had operated on my leg and groin!\u201dTim looks back now at the day\u2019s events and just feels grateful to have been in the right place, with the right team, when he needed them most. \u201cI feel as good, if not better, than before,\u201d he exclaims.Tim had a follow-up appointment with Dr. Jabbour, who noted that everything looked great and Tim was not in need of any additional treatment or medication at this time.Tim expresses his appreciation for UPMC Altoona, stating, \u201cUPMC Altoona is a beautiful facility and the staff is great. I cannot say enough good things about everyone, especially Dr. Jabbour and his wonderful team.\u201dThe physicians and staff at UPMC Altoona are especially proud of their team efforts to address and correct Tim\u2019s sudden issues. Both Dr. Bilofsky and Dr. Jabbour credit their surgical staff and each other\u2019s quick reactions and ability to seamlessly work together as the reasons they were able to save Tim\u2019s life that day.Now fully recovered from his broken heart syndrome, Tim and his wife have gotten back to doing the things they love, including traveling to visit their daughters in Arizona and Nashville, spending time outdoors, and oil painting \u2013 a hobby of Tim\u2019s. Tim remains thankful for the care he received at UPMC Altoona and recognizes that his outcome could have been much different, saying, \u201cIf I hadn\u2019t been at UPMC Altoona and they hadn\u2019t had the Impella there, I would not have made it.\u201dTim\u2019s treatment and results may not be representative of similar cases. Impella\u00ae is a registered trademark of Abiomed. 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