Getting to the Heart of a Complex Condition

The frustration of knowing there is something terribly wrong with your health but not being able to pinpoint the cause was something Ana del Carmen Elozúa Lazcano had accepted. But when her health took a sudden downward spiral and she landed in the ICU at Baptist Health Baptist Hospital last February, the gravity of her situation was apparent.

“My health deteriorated gradually,” she said, “so I wasn’t paying much attention because I had always been healthy. But then I started experiencing severe shortness of breath, leg pain and fatigue. I couldn’t climb stairs, open a water bottle or even get out of bed.”

And Ms. Lazcano, 57, kept getting worse. “My health was in very bad shape. My hair was falling out. I was speaking incoherently and I could barely walk. I fell and hit my head and I was so weak I couldn’t hold anything in my hands.”

Fortunately, Ms. Lazcano’s daughter recognized the severity of the situation and rushed her to Baptist Hospital, where cardiologist Sandra Chaparro, M.D., was waiting.

(Watch now: Ana del Carmen Elozúa Lazcano, 57, knew something was wrong but didn’t realize just how bad her health was until she was rushed to Baptist Health Baptist Hospital and saw heart failure specialist Sandra Chaparro, M.D. Video by Gort Productions.)

Dr. Chaparro, who specializes in cardiovascular disease, heart failure and transplantation cardiology, and serves as director of Advanced Heart Failure at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, knew immediately that Ms. Lazcano was suffering from multiple problems.

Multiple Health Problems Complicate Her Treatment for Heart Failure

"Ana has an underlying collagen disease known as mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). She also had pulmonary hypertension and then developed multiple complications, including heart failure,” Dr. Chaparro said. “When multiple organs are involved, you need a multidisciplinary team of specialists.”

Sandra Chaparro, M.D., cardiologist and director of the Advanced Heart Failure at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute

MCTD is an autoimmune disorder that can cause muscle and joint pain, rashes, swelling in the fingers and hands, increased fatigue and a general feeling of unwellness. As it progresses, it can affect organs, such as the heart, lungs and kidneys.

In addition to heart failure, Ms. Lazcano was suffering from atrial fibrillation (an irregular, rapid heartbeat), pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs that also affects the ability of the heart to pump blood) and a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs).

“Her treatment was complex,” Dr. Chaparro said. “She was intubated because of her respiratory failure, put on IV medicines to support her heart function, and her kidneys weren’t working so we had to support that with medicines.” Her liver was also affected.

After a few weeks in the hospital, Ms. Lazcano was well enough to return home, knowing that when she had recovered more she would still need to undergo a minimally invasive heart procedure to repair a leak in her mitral valve. When the mitral valve fails to close properly, blood can leak or flow backward into the upper chamber. This inefficient blood flow forces the heart to work harder than normal to maintain adequate circulation throughout the body.

After Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair, She Feels Like a New Person

In October, Bernardo Lopez Sanabria, M.D., an interventional cardiologist with the Institute, performed a transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER). Through a blood vessel in Ms. Lazcano’s leg, he reached the heart and attached a small metal clip about the size of a staple to the mitral valve to help it close properly.

Bernardo Lopez Sanabria, M.D., an interventional cardiologist with Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute

Today, Ms. Lazcano said she feels like a new person. “My life has completely changed. I can walk, climb stairs and eat normally. I am living an active life again. Thanks to Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, Dr. Chaparro and the entire medical team, my health has significantly improved.” She especially enjoys helping care for her granddaughter. “She fills my life with joy.”

Ms. Lazcano’s prognosis is excellent, Dr. Chaparro confirmed. “She had a full recovery of her heart failure. Her heart is back to normal.”

Risk factors for heart failure include coronary artery disease, hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes and smoking. For patients like Ms. Lazcano who have underlying conditions, it’s particularly important to be closely monitored to help prevent other medical problems, Dr. Chaparro said.

“Know your numbers, follow up with your providers and seek care from a team of experts from multiple specialties, such as Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute,” she said, “because we can develop a specific plan for your condition that will allow you to live better and longer.”

Do You Know Your Coronary Calcium Score?  As part of Heart Month this February, many Baptist Health diagnostic imaging locations will be participating in our heart scan promotion. You may be eligible for a CT calcium scoring if you are 40-75 years old and meet certain cardiac risk factors. To learn more and request an appointment, visit BaptistHealth.net/HeartScan.