December 14, 2020
The importance of getting her annual health exam took on new meaning in fall 2019 for Patty Armstrong of Paola, Kansas. Her recommended preventive screening led to the discovery of gallstones and an emergency heart procedure.
Patty’s primary care physician recommended a screening colonoscopy for the 70-year-old. So she made an appointment with Christopher Lewis, DO, a board-certified surgeon.
“I had read an article about Dr. Lewis a few months before, and I’ve had other tests and procedures at Paola Hospital, so I was comfortable making my appointment there,” Patty said.
During her initial colonoscopy consultation, Dr. Lewis determined Patty had gallstones. Most patients with gallstones, like Patty, have no symptoms of pain. However, untreated gallstones can lead to severe complications, including jaundice, infection, pancreas inflammation and gallbladder cancer.
“Patty’s gallstones were the size of small seeds,” Dr. Lewis said. “We determined the best option for Patty was to remove her gallbladder. We were able to perform the surgery—called a cholecystectomy—with a minimally invasive procedure. We used 3 or 4 tiny incisions and removed the gallbladder.”
Dr. Lewis performed Patty’s colonoscopy at Paola Hospital and then proceeded to remove her gallbladder. Both procedures went well, but Patty soon began experiencing cardiac symptoms while recovering in the hospital.
“I started to have some chest pain and numbness in my left hand,” Patty said. “Dr. Lewis and the team began to monitor my cardiac enzymes, which they said were elevated.”
Dr. Lewis and health system cardiologists decided to keep Patty at the hospital overnight for observation. The next day, they transferred her to Olathe Hospital for testing, which revealed Patty had an underlying heart condition that needed immediate care. At Olathe Hospital, doctors took her into the cardiac catheterization lab, where interventional cardiologist Dusan A. Stanojevic, MD, placed 2 stents to clear blockages in her cardiac arteries.
“An important benefit of Olathe Health (now part of The University of Kansas Health System) is how connected all the specialists are across hospitals and clinics,” Dr. Lewis said. “From the time Patty first started experiencing heart symptoms, we were in constant communication with Patty’s cardiologist, Basem Kayali, MD, and cardiovascular specialists. We were all looking at the same tests in real time and could make the quick decisions that Patty’s health required.”
Three days after her gallbladder surgery, and just 1 day after her heart catheterization, Patty was released home to recover. She is feeling good and enjoys spending her retirement with her family, reading, watching cooking shows and KU men’s basketball, and taking walks with her pet dog, Lizzie, and cat, Lillie.
“I’m very grateful Dr. Lewis was there for me,” Patty said. “The doctors explained everything they were doing and why things were happening. I have complete faith in the staff at both hospitals.”
Patty’s primary care physician recommended a screening colonoscopy for the 70-year-old. So she made an appointment with Christopher Lewis, DO, a board-certified surgeon.
“I had read an article about Dr. Lewis a few months before, and I’ve had other tests and procedures at Paola Hospital, so I was comfortable making my appointment there,” Patty said.
During her initial colonoscopy consultation, Dr. Lewis determined Patty had gallstones. Most patients with gallstones, like Patty, have no symptoms of pain. However, untreated gallstones can lead to severe complications, including jaundice, infection, pancreas inflammation and gallbladder cancer.
“Patty’s gallstones were the size of small seeds,” Dr. Lewis said. “We determined the best option for Patty was to remove her gallbladder. We were able to perform the surgery—called a cholecystectomy—with a minimally invasive procedure. We used 3 or 4 tiny incisions and removed the gallbladder.”
Dr. Lewis performed Patty’s colonoscopy at Paola Hospital and then proceeded to remove her gallbladder. Both procedures went well, but Patty soon began experiencing cardiac symptoms while recovering in the hospital.
“I started to have some chest pain and numbness in my left hand,” Patty said. “Dr. Lewis and the team began to monitor my cardiac enzymes, which they said were elevated.”
Dr. Lewis and health system cardiologists decided to keep Patty at the hospital overnight for observation. The next day, they transferred her to Olathe Hospital for testing, which revealed Patty had an underlying heart condition that needed immediate care. At Olathe Hospital, doctors took her into the cardiac catheterization lab, where interventional cardiologist Dusan A. Stanojevic, MD, placed 2 stents to clear blockages in her cardiac arteries.
“An important benefit of Olathe Health (now part of The University of Kansas Health System) is how connected all the specialists are across hospitals and clinics,” Dr. Lewis said. “From the time Patty first started experiencing heart symptoms, we were in constant communication with Patty’s cardiologist, Basem Kayali, MD, and cardiovascular specialists. We were all looking at the same tests in real time and could make the quick decisions that Patty’s health required.”
Three days after her gallbladder surgery, and just 1 day after her heart catheterization, Patty was released home to recover. She is feeling good and enjoys spending her retirement with her family, reading, watching cooking shows and KU men’s basketball, and taking walks with her pet dog, Lizzie, and cat, Lillie.
“I’m very grateful Dr. Lewis was there for me,” Patty said. “The doctors explained everything they were doing and why things were happening. I have complete faith in the staff at both hospitals.”