Pocono News Section

Heart procedure is first of it's kind in our area

Heart procedure is first of it's kind in our area - Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 6:08PM EST

Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 @ 06:08pm EST

A Hazleton woman is getting ready to enjoy the holidays with her family thanks to a special heart device.

87 year old Rose Lombardo had a new procedure at Geisinger's Heart Institute.

From her Hazleton home, Rose Lombardo is all smiles.

She celebrated her 87th birthday this week, but it's one she almost didn't see.

"I don't know, it was such a miracle," said Lombardo.

Last month Lombardo had severe heart problems.

Her arteries were hardening and her condition worsened by the day.

"I knew there was something wrong because I just didn't feel right and I just couldn't lift my arms," said Lombardo.

Lombardo's luck changed in November at Geisinger's Heart Institute.

Dr. John Hodgson performed a procedure with this device, the Impella 2.5.

It's the first time Impella has been used in Northeastern Pensylvania .

For Lombardo, it essentially took over the heart's pumping action while stints were installed.

That helped keep her arteries open and unclogged.

Dr. Hodgson says the procedure couldn't have waited much longer.

"The heart pumping function stops. It's very much like having the gas line to your car turned off," said Dr. Hodgson.

The procedure was a success.

"Well I just wanted to come and hug that doctor. I said to him, is everything ok?" said Dr. Hodgson.

Lombardo is ok and back home.

Dr. Hodgson says that's thanks to the impella 2.5

"She was really limited by her chest pain and at quite high risk for dying from this disease and now i think we've allowed her to enter the holidays and she's going to be up, running around celebrating the holidays with her kids," said Dr. Hodgson.