Page 9 - COM-16-25365_Summer2016THRIVE-wMagnet.indd

Gary Jentes struggled for years with an irregular heartbeat.
“With the least amount of exertion, I had trouble breathing,”
he said.

He needed to lose over a hundred pounds before his in Gary’s chest and ablated the outside of the heart. Dr.
doctors could treat his heart, so he came to Summa Taigen then inserted a catheter into Gary’s heart and
Health Bariatric Care Center. Before surgery, he spent ablated the same spot from the inside.
six months in Summa’s nonsurgical weight loss program.
“Any questions I had, they’re there to answer them,” he Working together, our weight loss and cardiac teams
said. “They want to make sure that you are mentally and dramatically changed Gary’s life. “Combining the weight
physically prepared for that type of surgery.” loss operation with the hybrid ablation really brought Gary
back to health,” said Dr. Espinal. “That means a lot to our
“Our comprehensive approach separates us from other entire team.”
local programs,” explained John Zografakis, M.D., Director
of the Bariatric Care Center, and a Summa Health Medical Gary has nothing but praise for his Summa team. “Before,
Group physician. “We create an individual care plan for I was very limited, but now I haven’t found anything that I
every weight loss surgery patient that includes visits with haven’t been able to do. I knew doctors should and could
physicians, a psychologist, a dietitian, a case manager, a work together, but I’ve never witnessed it until my own
nurse practitioner and an exercise specialist.” case. I was very, very impressed.”

After dropping more than 100 pounds following his To learn more about Summa’s
weight loss surgery, Gary met with Tyler Taigen, M.D., multidisciplinary services, or to
Director of Summa Health Atrial Fibrillation Program. make an appointment with a Summa
“Gary was stuck in atrial fibrillation,” said Dr. Taigen. “So we physician, call 800.237.8662.
started thinking about innovative ways to handle it.” Gary
became a candidate for a new hybrid ablation procedure.

Ablation involves cauterizing the part of the heart muscle
that triggers abnormal heart rhythms. Rather than a
traditional approach, Dr. Taigen proposed ablating the
inside and outside of Gary’s heart in the same operation.

During a combined procedure in the Richard M. and
Yvonne Hamlin Hybrid Operating Room Suite, Dr.
Taigen was joined by Eric Espinal, M.D., Director of
Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr. Espinal made small incisions

Thrive - Summer 2016 9