Triple Bypass Tells One Patient to Listen to His Body

Jon Gentry’s Apple watch noticed something was off before he did.

One day, Jon got multiple notifications on his Apple watch that he was in atrial fibrillation (AFib), a type of arrhythmia or abnormal heartbeat that is caused by fast and irregular heartbeats. Jon was no stranger to health problems; in 2005 Jon received a liver transplant; years later, he underwent a procedure to address blockages in his carotid arteries and nearly 10 years ago, suffered a stroke. With his health history in mind, he knew not to put things off, so he made an appointment with Mercy cardiologist Ryan Hollenbeck, MD, FACC, FSCAI. Jon was fitted with a heart monitor which he wore for one month, turning it in to Dr. Hollenbeck’s team.

The next night, Jon was lying in bed when he suddenly had intense chest pains and pressure. He and his wife quickly made their way to Mercy’s Hiawatha Emergency Department where Jon underwent a myriad of tests. The results indicated Jon had a heart attack and the following morning, he was transported to Mercy Medical Center where he met with Dr. Hollenbeck.

“I took Jon to our Cath Lab for coronary angiography as a first step,” Dr. Hollenbeck said. “During this procedure, I insert a long, thin tube called a catheter into the blood vessel of the arm and guided it to the heart. I then use the catheter to take pictures of the coronary arteries, which are the vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle. If a blockage or narrowing is discovered, I use a stent to open the blockage, which allows for more blood flow.”

However, Jon had three arteries that were 95%, 90% and 85% blocked.

“In Jon’s case, he had so many blockages that stenting was not his best option,” said Dr. Hollenbeck. “In these cases, we know that open heart surgery and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a better long-term option.”

Jon was referred to Mercy cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon C.C. Lee, MD, for CABG. “Dr. Lee said, ‘I can help you,’ and I told him to ‘do what you have to do’,” Jon said. “You have to put confidence in somebody, and he’s going to have your heart in his hand, so I put my mine in him.”

“Jon’s surgery was complicated by his medical history,” Dr. Lee said. “As a result, there were multiple factors we had to weigh and observe throughout the surgery and his recovery.”

Jon’s surgery went smoothly, and he was diligent in following instructions from his care team in order to recover and heal as quickly as possible.

“I was in the Navy, so it was like Dr. Lee was the captain and I was just the crewman,” Jon said. “I took orders. I did what they told me to.”

Jon worked hard throughout his cardiac rehab. A month and a half later, he was back to playing golf and taking care of his yard—a great source of pride for Jon.

“Dr. Lee did a great job,” said Jon. “He’s a master because you can’t even see the scar. I have no complaints. I feel a lot better since the bypass. The doctors at Mercy are spot on.”

With a new lease on life, Jon looks forward to seeing his grandchildren get married and continuing to perfect his yard and landscaping.

“If you’ve got an Apple watch and it tells you something’s wrong, listen to it,” Jon said. “If you know a nurse, listen to them. Don’t blow it off. Life’s too precious.”