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Chuck's Story: A Heart Attack and a Hole in the Heart

Contributor Eriberto Michel, MD
7 minute read
Chuck Samiotes and his cardiac surgeon, Dr. Eriberto Michel, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a Boston Red Sox game. Chuck Samiotes and his cardiac surgeon, Dr. Eriberto Michel, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a Boston Red Sox game.

Chuck Samiotes didn't think much of it when he started feeling pain in his left shoulder. Two days later, he even danced his heart out at a raucous Greek wedding in New York City. 

On the drive back to his home in Wayland, Massachusetts, Chuck applied an ice pack to manage the lingering pain. Eight days after the symptoms began, the pain became too much to bear. Chuck's wife, Despina, took him to Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Upon learning of his symptoms, a doctor shared the shocking news: Chuck was having a heart attack.

Since Newton-Wellesley does not perform heart surgery, the doctor asked him where he wanted to go next. 

"I said, 'There's only one place I will go, and that's Massachusetts General Hospital,'" Chuck recalled. "I've been going there religiously for 35 years."

Since the two hospitals are both part of the Mass General Brigham health system, Chuck had a seamless transfer from Newton-Wellesley to Mass General. 

A family history of heart problems

Heart problems run in Chuck's family. His father had a heart attack at 42 and a massive stroke 12 years later. His brother also had a heart attack, at 36. 

Having reached age 68 without any heart issues, Chuck figured he had lucked out. While he was a few pounds overweight and had high blood pressure, he stayed active tending to the large family garden and doing projects around the house. 

When the shoulder pain emerged, he assumed he had pulled a muscle. In fact, it was an urgent heart attack symptom.

He was experiencing what we call 'referred pain' caused by the heart attack. Some people get shoulder pain. Others get arm pain, jaw pain, or indigestion. Heart attack symptoms show up in different ways for different people.

Eriberto Michel, MD
Cardiac Surgeon
Mass General Brigham Heart

"He was experiencing what we call 'referred pain' caused by the heart attack," explained Eriberto Michel, MD, one of the Mass General cardiac surgeons who treated Chuck. "Some people get shoulder pain. Others get arm pain, jaw pain, or indigestion. Heart attack symptoms show up in different ways for different people."  

A care team that included interventional cardiologist Nilay Patel, MD, was waiting for Chuck at the Mass General emergency room. Soon after arriving via ambulance, Chuck passed out. He wouldn't wake up for two days. 

Detecting a ventricular septal defect

Dr. Patel and the team at Mass General's catheterization lab quickly confirmed the diagnosis of a heart attack. A subsequent echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) showed that Chuck might also have a ventricular septal defect (a hole in the wall between the two lower heart chambers). Dr. Michel was called to the room. 

"Dr. Patel identified the problem and then quickly triaged it to the right person," Dr. Michel said.

As Dr. Michel explained, a main artery running along the back of the heart had become completely blocked due to the heart attack, cutting off blood flow to a section of heart tissue. That led to the death of the tissue, which is where the hole developed. 

Open heart surgery would be necessary to save Chuck's life. There was no time to waste. Dr. Michel had two key goals: One, repair the hole in the heart. Two, address the significant blockages in other arteries of the heart. About 31% of patients undergoing surgery in this scenario don't survive. 

Chuck being discharged from Mass General.
Chuck being discharged from Mass General.

'More stitches on your heart than a baseball'

Dr. Michel conducted the seven-hour surgery alongside fellow cardiac surgeon Thoralf Sundt, MD. First, they used an artery from Chuck's chest and some vein from his leg to do three bypasses. This created new pathways for blood to flow around the blocked arteries. 

Next, they turned their attention to the ventricular septal defect. Using tissue made from the pericardium (a membrane that surrounds the heart) of a cow, they patched the hole. Then they closed up Chuck and weaned him off the heart-lung machine, which had maintained blood and oxygen circulation during the surgery. 

Despina and their daughter Anna anxiously watched over Chuck as he remained under sedation over the next two days. Since ventricular septal defects are so rare, Mass General had previously repaired very few cases like Chuck's. But Dr. Michel stopped by the room several times to reinforce that the surgery had been a success. 

"Right after I woke up from my induced coma, he came in to show us pictures of my reconstructed heart. To see the pride in his work on his face was a precious moment," Chuck said. "I remember Anna saying, 'Dad, you've got more stitches on your heart than a baseball.'"

Cardiac rehabilitation and lifestyle changes support recovery

Chuck's postsurgical recovery was unexpectedly swift. He spent four days in the Intensive Care Unit and another four in the cardiac unit before heading home. 

During 12 weeks of cardiac rehabilitation sessions at Mass General, Chuck had his heart monitored while walking on a treadmill. He also learned about lifestyle changes that would help prevent future heart problems. He's embraced those lessons, eating a healthier diet and incorporating more exercise, including swimming, into his routine.

A year and a half after the fact, Chuck said it feels like he never had a heart attack. He has no restrictions on his activities. Dr. Michel said that Chuck's "positivity, 'can-do' attitude, and desire to get better for his family" have all contributed to his comeback.

Chuck alongside his cardiac surgeon, Eriberto Michel, MD.
Chuck alongside his cardiac surgeon, Eriberto Michel, MD.

"What I prescribed to him was to go out and live a normal life," Dr. Michel added. "This was a very high-risk procedure. Since he survived, he should take advantage of the opportunity to travel, see his grandchildren, stay active in his business, and go to all the Red Sox games he wants."

Indeed, the Boston Red Sox are a passion for Chuck, who is a season ticket holder. Just over a year after his operation, he treated Dr. Michel to a game at Fenway Park. The two even got to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

"This guy is my hero. I can't say enough about him or the heart attack treatment I received at Mass General," Chuck said. "I'm so grateful to be alive." 

Learn more about or contact Mass General Brigham Heart services

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Eriberto Michel, MD headshot

Contributor

Eriberto Michel, MD
Cardiac Surgeon