On May 20, 2022, Chen Lee celebrated the one-year anniversary of what he describes as his rebirth — the day his life was saved after an electrocution.
A Sudden Jolt
That day, May 20, 2021, Chen was replacing a ceiling light socket in the hallway of his home. Suddenly, a high voltage of power surged through and electrocuted him.
Chen says, “Afterwards, my gait, hand and left-side chest began to feel abnormal. Weak and uncomfortable, I thought that I may have had a stroke, so I asked my son to call 911.”
Chen’s son, Jason, called immediately and once the ambulance arrived, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers began to evaluate him. While listening to Chen’s explanation, EMS asked if he’d been electrocuted. He affirmed their suspicions.
Transport to WakeMed Raleigh Campus for Lifesaving Care
“They told me they thought I’d had a heart attack as a result of the electrocution, so they gave me two aspirin, put me on a stretcher and transported me to WakeMed Raleigh Campus Emergency Department where the Heart & Vascular team met me.”
Immediately upon arrival, Chen was moved to a wheel bed from the ambulance. The team took his vitals and wheeled him to a room where he underwent an electrocardiogram to determine the extent of the damage to his heart.
A Diagnosis that Shocks the Heart
Chen was diagnosed with an acute myocardial infarction. He had 95 to 100% blockage of two arteries that supply blood to his heart muscle-left ventricle. The right coronary artery also had 90% blockage. The middle right coronary artery was 90% occluded, and collateral circulation supplied the distal region of the right coronary artery.
Chen says, “Thereafter, a series of intense procedures began to help restore oxygen to my heart muscle and remove the blockage.”
First, Chen was injected with an anticoagulant to try to dissolve the clot blocking the blood vessel. Next, WakeMed Heart & Vascular – General & Interventional Cardiology physician, Siva Ketha, MD, FACC, and the WakeMed medical team performed a cardiac catheterization and stent placement. This was done under the guidance of the X-ray machine. The cardiac catheter was placed through the artery of the groin, and the thrombus causing the 100% blockage was located and treated with a total of three stents.
The final angiographic result was 0% residual stenosis and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI)-3 flow.
Chen says, “The operation was very successful and saved my life.”
He was released home after overnight monitoring and was scheduled for a follow-up visit to ensure he was still doing well.
At follow-up, Dr. Ketha shared that Chen was recovering very well, but he would need a right coronary artery stent to treat the 90% blockage in this blood vessel. This was done in mid-June 2021 through his right wrist, and two vascular stents were placed.
Chen says, “After the first three months, my heart function was improved from 30% to 40% recovery of diastolic and systolic activities.”
In all, a total of five stents were placed.
All was well until seven months later in November 2021. Chen had a small pain in the lower part of his heart and felt a little short of breath when he walked and exercised. As the days went by, and the symptoms did not subside, Chen decided he needed to head to WakeMed North Hospital Emergency Department.
Imaging studies and blood work were taken, and the care team determined that Chen’s Troponin-I — related to acute coronary syndrome — was high. He was transported to the cardiac catheterization laboratory where the team found that the left ventricular systolic function had decreased slightly, with an estimated ejection fraction of 45-50%. While the movement of the middle and far anterior septum and apex were decreased, the movement of the remaining left ventricular wall was normal.
Chen’s heart enzymes were also above normal range. These enzymes are usually present in small amounts in the blood, and when these levels are elevated, it indicates that the heart muscle may be injured or may not be getting enough oxygen.
After several blood tests, his levels were still not returning to normal. The care team determined that Chen might, once again, have some blocked blood vessels, so they transported him to the WakeMed Heart Center for further examination.
Working with the care team, Dr. Ketha performed an image guided balloon dilatation and angioplasty to expand blocked stents in his distal left anterior descending artery. The procedure was successful.
Chen says, “I didn’t know my heart was blocked so much. Myocardial hypoxia was unexpectedly found, and coronary artery stenosis was more than 95%.”
Taking Control of His Heart Health
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Chen made a renewed effort to eat healthy and exercise along with taking his medications.
Chen says, “After those three operations, I have continued to take my medicine on time, walk daily for exercise and eat healthy. I eat more fruits and vegetables, drink more water and no longer eat oily, salty or sugary foods. My cholesterol has gone down a lot, and I’ve taken off a little excess weight.”
When he last returned to WakeMed Heart & Vascular, his cardiac ultrasound examination revealed that his heart muscle function had improved. In fact, his heart’s pumping function (left ventricular ejection fraction) improved to 45-50%.
Today, Chen feels great. He takes five medications daily. These meds inhibit platelet aggregation to slow down the production of cholesterol in the body and treat high blood pressure and heart failure to help prevent stroke.
A Heart of Gratitude
Chen last saw Dr. Ketha in February 2022. It was a chilly day, and Dr. Ketha apologized for having cold hands as he prepared for Chen’s exam.
Chen recalls, “When Dr. Ketha examined my chest, he said to me, ‘I’m sorry my hands are cold,’ and I answered, ‘No, your hands are warm; they are wonderful hands because they have saved many lives.'”
Beyond Dr. Ketha, Chen also has a heart full of gratitude for the entire WakeMed Heart & Vascular care team, with a special shout out to cardiology nurse practitioner, Terri McDowell. He is also thankful for Primary Care provider, Dr. Dustin R. Pierson, the EMS team as well as his family, wife and children. He’s especially grateful to his son, Jason, who is currently in medical school at UNC Chapel Hill and was responsible for that lifesaving 911 call.
About WakeMed Heart & Vascular
WakeMed Heart & Vascular physicians bring together expert cardiovascular, thoracic and vascular surgeons who are dedicated to delivering the highest level of cardiovascular care in Raleigh, Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Garner and Clayton, N.C. For decades, these physicians have chosen to bring their talent and expertise to WakeMed for its reputation for excellence in cardiovascular care and commitment to providing the most exceptional patient experience.
