A Routine Visit, A Life-Saving Discovery: Inside Ozarks Healthcare's Cardiac Catheterization Lab

When Garry Cutts visited A.K. George, MD, cardiologist at Ozarks Healthcare, for his regular six-month checkup, he was thinking about his upcoming knee replacement - not his heart.

A heart attack survivor from 13 years earlier, Garry had faithfully kept his follow-up appointments with Dr. George for decades. During one of those routine visits, he mentioned he was preparing for knee surgery.

That conversation led Dr. George to order an EKG before clearing him for surgery. While the initial testing didn't immediately raise concerns, Dr. George wanted to investigate further. Over the next several weeks, Garry completed additional testing, including a stress test before undergoing a cardiac catheterization at Ozarks Healthcare.

The results surprised everyone.

"They told us he had around a 99% blockage," recalled Garry's wife, Jennie. "When we heard that number, it just put us in shock."

The cardiac catheterization revealed a 99% blockage, along with two additional blockages. One of those also required a stent to restore blood flow.

The discovery was especially alarming because Garry hadn't experienced what he considered classic heart attack symptoms.

"I didn't think anything was wrong," Garry said.

Looking back, however, Jennie realized there had been subtle warning signs.

"He had been having problems with his left arm and hand going numb for a couple of weeks," she said. "We just thought it was a pinched nerve in his neck."

Instead, it was his heart sending an important warning.

Thanks to Dr. George's careful evaluation and the expertise of the Ozarks Healthcare Cardiac Catheterization (Cath) Lab team, Garry received treatment before the severe blockage could lead to another heart attack.

"We're very blessed," Jennie said. "It was kind of a fluke that he mentioned he was getting ready for knee surgery. If Dr. George hadn't decided to take a closer look, we don't know what could have happened."

For Garry, the experience reinforced the value of having an experienced cardiologist who knows his medical history.

"I've been seeing Dr. George for about 30 years," Garry said. "He's always taken good care of me."

Recovery from the minimally invasive procedure was quick. Using wrist access, the cardiac catheterization allowed Garry to return home soon afterward with only a brief recovery period.

"The hardest part was slowing down," Jennie said with a laugh. "He wanted to get right back to feeding the cattle."

Living between Eminence and Winona, Garry stays active on the family farm, especially during hay season. Although his knee replacement has been postponed while he recovers, he's thankful the heart problem was discovered before it became an emergency.

"It was probably lucky that I went to see Dr. George," Garry said.

For Dr. George and the Ozarks Healthcare Cath Lab team, Garry's story highlights the importance of preventive cardiac care. Sometimes the most life-saving procedures happen before a patient ever realizes they're in danger.

Today, Garry is back to doing what he loves, grateful that advanced cardiac care - and a physician who took the time to look a little deeper - were available close to home.

Garry's experience reflects Ozarks Healthcare's ongoing commitment to providing advanced cardiovascular care close to home. The organization is designated as a Primary Heart Attack Center by The Joint Commission and has earned multiple American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® achievement awards recognizing its commitment to delivering evidence-based care for heart attack and stroke patients.