Man Survives 3 Heart Attacks in 4 Days

Tommy Bell, a 62-year-old hospital worker, faced a life-threatening ordeal when he suffered three heart attacks within a four-day period last year. His health crisis began the day before Thanksgiving, when he experienced chest pain and sought help at AdventHealth DeLand.

Doctors discovered a blockage in his "widowmaker" artery and scheduled a procedure to place a stent. However, shortly after the procedure, Bell suffered a heart attack due to a blood clot. A second stent was placed, but he experienced further heart attacks. It was determined that a blood clot formed after his initial surgery, a rare complication affecting less than 1% of patients with stents.

Interventional cardiologist Dr. Janak Bhavsar explained that Bell's significant arterial calcification limited the stent's effectiveness. To address this, the medical team performed an intracoronary lithotripsy, using a specialized balloon to break up the calcium deposits. Bell received another stent and was prescribed blood thinners to prevent future clots.

Following his recovery, Bell expressed deep gratitude for the "overwhelming" support from his colleagues and hospital staff. He has since focused on dietary changes, working with the hospital's rehabilitation team to adopt a healthier lifestyle to mitigate future heart risks.