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  • 10 Years of Innovation at Cardiac Cath Lab
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PATIENT STORIES 10 Years of Innovation at Cardiac Cath Lab

Mills-Peninsula Medical Center

Ten years ago, we unveiled the magnificent facility that stands at 1501 Trousdale Drive, introducing Mills- Peninsula Medical Center’s state-of-the-art Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. Today, we celebrate some of the tremendous achievements we’ve seen at the lab, and we look forward to building an even more advanced facility, one that will enable us to expand the range of procedures available to patients and further improve patient outcomes.

“The cath lab allowed us to bring revolutionary and less-invasive procedures to the local community, like TAVR and Mitraclip to fix valves, and newly approved devices like Watchman, to help patients with atrial fibrillation,” says Christian Spies, M.D., cardiovascular medical director at MPMC.

Indeed, Mills-Peninsula is now one of the region’s leading providers of cardiac catheterization procedures — offering less invasive, safer alternatives to traditional surgery for diagnosing and treating cardiovascular conditions. Catheter-based procedures use a thin tube inserted into a large blood vessel for more accurate identification of narrowed coronary arteries, to open blocked passageways for improved blood flow and for other procedures.

In 2021 alone, MPMC’s cardiac teams will perform 844 cardiac catheterization procedures, 614 electrophysiology procedures and 168 valve or structural heart procedures to replace valves and reestablish blood flow.

In addition, when an MPMC emergency department patient experiences a heart attack, close proximity to the catheterization lab provides timely access to emergency angioplasty — a critical lifesaving procedure for opening blocked vessels and restoring blood flow to the heart without invasive surgery.

“I have experienced firsthand the exceptional care provided in the cath lab and I am grateful to the physicians and clinicians who repaired my heart and restored my health,” says patient Dick Sponholz. “As a donor, I am also aware of the need to upgrade this valuable resource to provide physicians with the best possible tools, while allowing the entire clinical staff to operate in a more efficient manner.”

Cardiac services are a high priority in the U.S. and in our area. Today, nearly half of all Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease, such as heart failure, irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), coronary artery disease or heart valve problems. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death for both men and women, taking the lives of nearly 2,200 Americans every day. Heart disease is also the leading cause of mortality in San Mateo County, where a rapidly growing senior population promises to dramatically increase the incidence of cardiovascular disease and the number of people requiring expert diagnosis and treatment services.

Bringing Next-Generation Technology to Mills-Peninsula

To ensure that patients in San Mateo County have access to the latest technologies for diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disease in the decade to come, Mills-Peninsula Hospital Foundation is working in conjunction with MPMC to seek philanthropic support for a next generation cardiac catheterization laboratory.

While MPMC’s two cardiac catheterization labs were state-of-the-art when the new hospital opened, they are now in need of an upgrade to the newest equipment. Donor support will enable MPMC to upgrade one of its cardiac catheterization labs with the latest technologies available for safely placing stents to treat narrowed or blocked arteries, and to repair and replace heart valves without the need for traditional open-heart surgery. The upgraded lab will also feature a more streamlined procedure room, with a single screen for high-resolution 2D and 3D imaging and other patient monitoring for all aspects of treatment.

The next-generation lab will also include features that make it easier for clinicians to operate, as well as benefits for patients, such as:

  • Safer procedures with reduced risk of complications
  • Shorter procedure and recovery times
  • Significantly reduced radiation exposure

The new equipment will be available for use by as many as 15 MPMC clinicians, including four interventional cardiology specialists, as well as three cardiac fellows who receive expert training at MPMC so they can serve as future leaders in cardiovascular medicine. Upgrading to the newer technology will also reduce radiation exposure by as much as 75% for the MPMC physicians who use the lab.

“This urgently needed upgrade will ensure that our expert clinicians can provide a growing number of patients with access to some of the most advanced procedures available for treating cardiovascular conditions — right here in San Mateo County,” Dr. Spies says. “With donor support, we can improve the health outcomes of patients in our community, and ultimately save lives.”

If you are interested in helping us raise $5.5 million to upgrade to the next-generation cardiac catheterization lab, please contact Kathy Hansen, director of philanthropy at MPHF, at (650) 436-8467 or hansenlk@sutterhealth.org.

Give Now to Mills-Peninsula

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Each individual’s treatment and/or results may vary based upon circumstances and the healthcare provider’s medical judgment. Testimonials or statements made by any person(s) within this site are not intended to guarantee outcomes or substitute for medical advice.

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