Methodist Healthcare System | Keeping Well | Winter 2016

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Getting your heart
back in rhythm
Millions of Americans experience arrhythmia, an abnormality of the
heart’s rhythm. Arrhythmia symptoms range from occasional skipped
beats and sustained racing pulse to episodes of loss of consciousness
(syncope). Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common arrhythmia and
often occurs in people over 65; however, patients as young as 13 years
old are being treated.
An electrical problem Many arrhythmias are due to a “short circuit”
in the heart’s electrical system, which can be treated with catheter or
“radiofrequency” ablation. In this minimally invasive procedure, a se-
ries of catheters (thin, flexible wires) are put into a blood vessel in your
arm, groin (upper thigh) or neck. The wires are guided into your heart
through the blood vessel. A special machine sends energy to your heart
through one of the catheters. The energy destroys small areas of heart
tissue where abnormal heartbeats may cause an arrhythmia to start.
“Radiofrequency ablation for supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and
common (non-AFib) atrial arrhythmias has a greater than 95 percent
success rate, has a low risk of complications and is done under mild
sedation,” explains Roger Muse, MD, cardiac electrophysiologist for
Methodist Heart. “AFib ablation, however, has a somewhat lower suc-
cess rate and, with most of our providers, requires general anesthesia.”
Keeping the beat At Methodist Heart, we are helping people from
throughout South Texas overcome arrhythmias every day. The de-
partment of Electrophysiology has physicians on the medical staff
who are all board-certified in internal medicine, cardiology and
electrophysiology, and who practice in our four full-time, advanced
electrophysiology labs.
A team of specially-trained electrophysiology nurses and anesthesia
providers will work with the electrophysiologist to provide quality care.
We diagnose the full spectrum of heart rhythm abnormalities, includ-
ing, but not limited to, AFib, atrial flutter, ventricular tachycardia and
ventricular fibrillation. We offer proven diagnostic and treatment options
for cardiac arrhythmias.
“Methodist Heart electrophysiologists are committed to providing
excellent care for all types of arrhythmia patients,” says Muse. “We have
office locations throughout San Antonio and surrounding areas, such as
Kerrville, Boerne, Devine and Uvalde, to name a few, and are happy to
begin the evaluation of any patient that has a rhythm concern.”
Thankful for a new heart
Methodist Heart Transplant Program
6 K E E P I N G W E L L W I N T E R 2 0 1 6
N E W S , V I E W S & T I P S M E T H O D I S T H E A L T H C A R E
GRATEFUL HEARTS: Andy Post, together with his family. “As a successful heart transplant recipient,
I am giving other people hope,” Post says.
Andy Post is tuning up his musical skills to help
others understand the importance of being an
organ donor, because without a heart donor, Post
would not be alive today.
Post, 44, was diagnosed with viral cardio-
myopathy in 1999. This condition causes the heart
and surrounding tissue to become enlarged, re-
sulting in difficulty pumping blood. The condition
can lead to heart failure.
After years of various therapies, including ag-
gressive medication and an implanted pacemaker
and defibrillator, Post’s heart health continued to
decline. A band director for more than 20 years
at Wood, Jackson and Lopez Middle Schools,
Post had to leave his teaching position because
of his health.
A heart in crisis On Aug. 15, 2014, Post’s heart
condition worsened. He was admitted toMethodist
Heart Hospital and given top status on the United
Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) waiting list.
“Doctors told my wife that they did not know
if I would survive,” he says. “I was basically down
to just hours of life, and the transplant was my
only option.”
On Aug. 18, a donor heart was accepted and
surgery was performed. Leading the transplant
team were Michael D. Kwan, MD, medical di-
rector of the Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac
Transplant Program at Texas Transplant Institute
(TTI), a department of Methodist Hospital, and
Chandra Kunavarapu, MD, TTI cardiologist.
“I was impressed with everything,” says Post.
“It was a total team effort from the organ pro-
curement representative to the medical team and
financial advisor. They really care about their pa-
tients and work together as a unit to heal them.”
After the transplant, he was in cardiac reha-
bilitation for three months. “I really appreciated
the rehabilitation team,” he says. “They got me
back on my feet and gave me the confidence to
reclaim my life. They pushed me at just the right
pace. Now they are like family and friends that I
will have for life.”
Living in gratitude In August 2015, Post learned
that his donor was a 37-year-old male. He wrote
a letter to his donor family thanking them and
asking to meet them.
“It’s just hard to put down in words what the
donation has meant to me, especially since their
loss gave me a new life,” he says.
So to honor his donor and celebrate his
new life, Post is dedicating himself to spread-
ing the word about the importance of organ
donation. He now volunteers with the Texas
Organ Sharing Alliance, speaking to groups
throughout the city. He has started a website—
—
and communicates about organ donation and his
transplant experience, as well as his intentions to
take good care of his new heart.
Also in August, Post joined the Youth Orchestras
of San Antonio on a part-time basis as conductor
of the Symphonic Winds, a group of 45 to 50 young
musicians.
“I accepted the position with the guidance of
Dr. Kunavarapu and the transplant team,” he says.
“It is the perfect opportunity for me. I am no lon-
ger handling equipment, which might impact my
immune system, but I am working with my two
passions—kids and music.
“But best of all, as a successful heart transplant
recipient, I am giving other people hope,” he says.