Dr. Albina Pankhasov/courtesy of those photographed
"I am indeed a doctor, and most of my children, and even my grandchildren are doctors, but what I went through about a year and a half ago led me to a real danger to my life, and I didn't know how to recognize the early signs either," says Dr. Albina Panhasov, 78, 23 years old, calmly A year as an infectious disease doctor at the Central Hospital in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and after immigrating to Israel - in Assaf Harofeh.
"At that time, there were long weeks and months when I felt it was hard to breathe," she says. I have heavy breathing.
Despite this, I preferred not to consult doctors for about six months.
It was a complex time for me, I was taking care of my husband who was sick and finally passed away and I was in no mood to take care of myself.
But the situation got worse, and suddenly I felt tired even when walking normally.
So I also went to the doctor, who sent me for an echocardiogram, but the test came out completely normal.
"A few weeks later, we went to the market to buy groceries for Rosh Hashanah. Suddenly I felt again that it was difficult for me to walk. I sat down to rest on a railing that was nearby. My daughter, who was with me, was frightened and wanted to call an ambulance for me. I did not agree. Stupid pride. In the end, When this horrible feeling didn't go away and the daughter didn't give up either - I gave in.
"We got to the emergency room in Shamir (Assaf Harofeh) and as soon as they saw me they said they had to have a catheter to check my condition.
The situation was so bad that instead of a simple 40-minute catheterization, I didn't get out of there until two hours later, sedated and ventilated.
It turns out that at that time the doctors told my children to pray for my life."
Dr. Albina Pankhasov/courtesy of those photographed
"Albina was placed in a coronary catheterization due to a myocardial infarction, or in simple words a heart attack, while her condition is stable," says Prof. Sa'ar Minha, director of the invasive cardiology unit in Shamir.
The diagnostic catheterization showed findings indicating significant narrowings in several arteries that supply blood to the heart - a situation in which bypass surgery is necessary.
During the preparation of the patient, her condition quickly deteriorated and efforts to stabilize her immediately began.
Three teams consisting of doctors, nurses and medical technicians worked at the same time - one team of catheterists, who, despite the anatomical complexity that required surgery as mentioned, catheterized the blood vessels while placing supports (stents) and improving the blood supply to the heart, a second team that simultaneously engaged in inserting a tiny pump (Impala) into the heart of the patient who is helping the failing heart to pump blood towards the aorta, and a third team assisted in treating her with medication to stabilize her condition." "
She suffered from a condition called cardiac shock (shock) which was caused as a result of a decrease in the blood supply to the heart muscle due to a severe narrowing of the heart's arteries," adds Dr. Eran Kalmanovich manages a cardiac intensive care unit in Shamir. "This causes a sharp decrease in cardiac output and may cause rapid deterioration and death.
The pump we implanted in her heart helps maintain normal cardiac output and blood and oxygen supply to the brain and other vital organs during the catheterization and treatment of the heart arteries.
The pump then allows the heart to rest and recover.
At the end of the complex catheterization, the patient was admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit while she was still supported by the pump.
Only after a few days, when the heart's function had fully recovered, we removed the pump from her heart.
Fortunately, her condition continued to improve and she returned to her health."
But the story did not end here. Three months after the first heart attack, Pankhasov suffered another attack.
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"My story is a miracle"
"Suddenly my blood pressure rose and I was again hospitalized in the cardiac intensive care unit in Shamir. This time Dr. Kalmanovitz said it was time for bypass surgery. I was very afraid of the surgery. It is a difficult surgery, when you open all the bones of the chest to reach and treat the heart. I was afraid that I would not get up from this surgery.
" I was operated on after four days and referred to home rehabilitation.
The feelings were difficult, from a woman who functioned perfectly on a daily basis, suddenly I am dependent on a walker and only shower when there is someone at home who can help.
Physiotherapists and occupational therapists kept coming to treat me and even the rehabilitation doctor visited me.
After a long period of recovery and healing, I was able to return to function."
"My story is a miracle," Penhasov concludes. "Several times they thought I wouldn't get up from the surgery, but they managed to save me every time.
Today I am like new.
I am not interested in the permanent nanny that they offered to accompany me for the whole day, and I am content with the 3 daily hours allotted to me by National Insurance.
I can spoil my children and grandchildren with foods they like.
I live with my son and his family who take care of me and surround me with lots of love." "
This is technology that did not exist a few years ago and now with its help it is possible to treat and assist patients who arrive in extreme situations that in the past had a much lower chance of being saved," concludes Dr. Kalmanovich, "It is always exciting to meet Albina and her family every time she comes for a routine checkup.
When you look at her, you can't guess the size of the event she went through."
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