A return to relaxation for heart patient

After retiring as an entomologist studying insects at UC Riverside, Jack Hall was enjoying retirement in Reedley while doing all of his favorite things – including traveling and gardening with his wife Joann. But one trip presented Hall with some unexpected news.

Hall developed pneumonia while traveling in Slovenia, and doctors discovered he had a heart problem as well. Instead of ruining the European vacation, the incident may have saved his life.

“Those doctors discovered it, that I had a flutter in my heart. I didn't even know I had it,” Hall said. “I never hurt through this whole thing…I didn't know until they started monkeying around." 

When Jack returned to the Valley, doctors diagnosed that flutter as atrial fibrillation – a condition when the upper chamber of the heart, the atria, does not beat in sync with the lower chamber, the ventricles.

Dr. Richard Gregory of Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital elected to perform a new technique, known as Hi-Fu, or high-frequency ultrasound.

"The ultrasound causes damage to the heart muscle itself. The damaged heart muscle doesn't allow the conduction system to fire inappropriately,” Dr. Gregory said. “It basically forces the conduction system to fire in a natural way." 

In Hall’s case, Dr. Gregory performed Hi-Fu in conjunction with a triple bypass surgery. He hopes as technology advances, Hi-Fu will be used as a stand-alone procedure.

Hall is enjoying the results, and is now back to spending time in his garden with his wife – his abnormal heart rhythm eliminated.

"We spend practically all our life out here in the garden,” Hall said. “We both work in the garden, we both love it. It's my R&R."

This story was reported special by David Taub. He can be reached at MedWatchToday@communitymedical.org.

Thursday, June 12, 2008