Jackson Heart Institute Gives 76-Year-old a Second Chance at Life

By: Miranda Torres

Cristina Alvarez never imagined a routine visit to the beauty parlor would turn into a fight for her life. As a retired nurse with no history of heart conditions, the last concern on the 76-year-old’s mind was having a heart attack.

On April 11, 2024, Alvarez experienced severe heart failure symptoms. Her husband, who was waiting for her at the beauty parlor, immediately drove her home in the hopes of it just being a minor scare. However, while driving, he also began experiencing heart attack-like symptoms, and was forced to pull over. By the time the pair arrived home, Alvarez was throwing up uncontrollably and there was no doubt her heart was failing.

Within five minutes, fire rescue was transporting her to Jackson Memorial Hospital. An initial cardiac catheterization revealed takotsubo cardiomyopathy, a temporary heart condition that develops in response to an intense emotional or physical experience, also referred to as “broken heart syndrome.”

The second catheterization showed that Alvarez had a worsening left ventricular aneurysm, or weakened area in her heart wall, and a blood clot the size of a golf ball, placing her at high risk for life-threatening complications like a stroke or irregular heartbeats. Her care team determined that the aneurysm started because she unknowingly experienced a small heart attack at some point in her life.

“For us to receive news that she had an aneurysm this large, we were all in shock because she’s never had a heart condition,” said Ileana Herrera, Alvarez’s daughter. “You would think she would’ve had some kind of symptoms and signs, but she had nothing. If she didn’t have the heart attack on April 11, she would have died because of the aneurysm.”

These results led the heart failure team to consult Hari Mallidi, MD, the chief of cardiac surgery and director of Jackson Heart Institute.

Alvarez’s history of hypertension, diabetes, and prior chemotherapy for breast cancer treatment made her case complex, ruling out the possibility of a left-ventricular assist device – a mechanical pump that’s surgically implanted in the chest to help the heart pump blood.

However, Alvarez’s aneurysm and associated complications were operable, eliminating the need for long-term mechanical support and allowing the surgical team to better restore her heart’s structure and function.

On May 15, Dr. Mallidi and his multidisciplinary team successfully repaired her left ventricular aneurysm, which involved removing the weakened area of the heart and reconstructing the ventricular wall, improving the heart’s shape and function. At the same time, the team addressed other issues to improve blood flow and reduce her risk of future complications.

Beyond the technical expertise, it was the team’s compassion that left a lasting impression. Even during moments of uncertainty, their empathy provided reassurance.

“Dr. Mallidi told us, ‘She will make it out of that surgery room. I won’t let her die.’ That gave us hope,” Herrera said.

Alvarez’s road to recovery wasn’t easy, but her progress continues. Within six months, she transitioned from open-heart surgery to receiving a defibrillator and eventually regained her independence.

“This surgery gave her a new lease on life, and with the right care, we expect her to have a significantly improved quality of life moving forward,” said Dr. Mallidi.

Today, Alvarez’s outlook is brighter than ever. With ongoing heart medication and regular check-ups, her doctors anticipate a full recovery.

“Dr. Mallidi is an angel. I know he saves lives every day, but to the family whose lives he’s saving, he’s giving them a second chance,” Herrera said. “It’s so much more than just saving a life, it’s saving a family.”