20 December, 2019
The story of Manuel Alvarado: Diagnosis and treatment of ischemic heart disease
A few weeks ago, 58 year old Mr. Manuel Alvarado came from Puebla (Mexico) and was admitted to barnaclínic+. When he was diagnosed with an ischemic heart disease, he was told his best option was to come to Barcelona. His wife Mrs. Lupita Prosperi de Alvarado accompanied him in this journey. After his surgery and some rest, they took the opportunity to visit Barcelona and the Spanish coast. Together with their cardiologists, Drs. Omar Gómez Monterrosas and Manel Sabaté they told us their story.
CARDIOPATHY DIAGNOSIS AND THE DECISION TO COME TO BARCELONA
As we mentioned before Mr. Alvarado was diagnosed with an arterial problem spotted during a stress test at a routine checkup in Mexico. Still in Puebla, he met Dr. Omar Gómez Monterrosas who analyzed his case and diagnosed him with an ischemic heart disease. Given the complexity of his pathology, they decided to consult Dr. Manel Sabaté, specialist in interventional cardiology at barnaclinic +. Mr. Alvarado’s problem in the heart arteries required functionality studies (physiology), which could only be performed with the high technology found in hospitals such as barnaclinic +.
After several videoconferences they concluded that the best option for the patient was to come to Barcelona. For the Alvarado family this came as a surprise and a concern. However, from the very first conference with Dr. Sabaté, they felt “confident, supported and guided,” says Mrs. Prosperi. They had a whole family meeting and decided to come to barnaclínic+ where, according to the patient’s wife: “there are the best technology and the best facilities and the best specialists”.
“We could go to the hospital with the best technology, the best facilities and the best specialists …”
Mrs. Lupita Prosperi de Alvarado
TRAVEL AND WELCOMING LOGISTICS
After a smooth journey they settled in the hospitalization room. All the logistics of the trip, transports and programmed treatment were carried out by our patient managers. As explained by Yaser Mohadr, a member of this team, their function is to create “a link between the international patient and barnaclínic +”. That is, they carry out all the procedures from their medical assessment til they’re admitted to the hospitalization room.
Once in the room, the first direct care contact is with the nursing team. Its fundamental role helps patients feel more secure, protected and informed, especially those who come from abroad. For Mr. Alvarado, the whole process was “excellent from the beginning” and adds: “We were given so much attention, with great warmth and respect. We felt part of a family.”
“We were given so much attention, with great warmth and respect. We felt part of a family.”
Manuel Alvarado Alvarado
THE INTERVENTION, “A GREAT SUCCESS”
The intervention was carried out the day after admission and, as Dr. Sabaté states: “Everything went well and was satisfactory”. The aim of the intervention was to identify whether the artery obstruction suffered by Mr. Alvarado was severe or not, and whether it produced an ischemia. Two techniques were employed: an image technique and a pressure guide technique; which measures the change in pressure in the obstruction. The outcome was positive and confirmed that the obstruction was not severe, so it was not necessary to place a device in the coronary artery (coronary stent).
FOLLOW-UP IN MEXICO AND REMOTE MONITORING
After the intervention, the patient was brought back to his room and was discharged the folowing day. From now on, the follow-up will be carried out by Dr. Gómez Monterrosas directly in Mexico. It is also possible to contact Dr. Sabaté via videoconference for remote monitoring.
Mrs. Prosperi stated that once back in Mexico, she would “recommend everyone to go to barnaclínic”. Mr. Alvarado, for his part, says he is “recovered, very happy and very well” and is grateful to “the nurses, doctors, the room team, the stretcher-bearers… Everyone was very friendly and approachable.”
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BARNACLÍNIC+ AND MEXICO
Mr. Alvarado’s case was a success. His case was the first of a collaboration to facilitate access to the services of barnaclínic and the Grupo Hospital Clínic de Barcelona for patients in Mexico. This relationship, as Dr. Sabaté states, “gives them the opportunity to access the latest treatments and technology that we already have; and that would probably take years to reach their country.”
DR. GÓMEZ MONTERROSAS AND DR. SABATÉ
Dr. Gómez Monterrosas trained as a fellow in interventional cardiology at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona between 2013 and 2015. His work relationship with Dr. Manel Sabaté dates back to this training and was maintained over time, also through joint research projects.
“This relationship gives them the opportunity to access the latest treatments and technology that we already have; and that would probably take years to reach their country.”
Dr. Manel Sabaté
After his training in Barcelona, Dr.Gómez went back to Mexico and thought about transferring what he had learned on to his patients. Not only in academic terms, but also and above all, with regards to the healthcare side of his training. He was still in contact with Dr. Sabaté, so he wondered how to offer the treatments and technology that could be found at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona to his patients in Mexico. That is when the idea and the possibility of establishing an agreement with barnaclínic+ was born.
Since then, patients from Puebla and throughout Mexico can access barnaclínic+ for the latest treatments and technology, as well as experts in the treatment of complex diseases. As Dr. Sabaté states: “A relationship that represents the opportunity to optimize the treatment of these patients, regardless of where they are and where they come from.”
