HIGH-QUALITY CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
IS CLOSE TO HOME FOR TRI-CITIES RESIDENTS
KINGSPORT – High-quality, cutting-edge cardiovascular research is happening right here in the Tri-Cities.
Cardiologists and cardiac surgeons at the Wellmont CVA Heart Institute are leading participants in national clinical trials. Working with patients across the region, physicians are participating in clinical trials of medical devices and medications that may one day become the standard of care for heart patients.
Terrie Walker, clinical research department manager for the Wellmont CVA Heart Institute, said the research occurring at the Heart Center in Kingsport and at Holston Valley Medical Center, Tennessee's No. 1 hospital for cardiology, is impressive.
"I think the volume we do and the scientific merit of the studies we do are really phenomenal for a smaller city that is not associated with any university-teaching hospital," Walker said. "I think we have a lot to be proud of – we certainly are right up there leading the pack in what we do."
Walker said the institute had about 600 patients enrolled in clinical trials in 2009 and nearly 400 were enrolled by the end of September this year. The institute is enrolling patients in 10 studies, has 14 studies in the follow-up phase and has another 12 studies pending. Patients usually remain part of a study for several years.
This year, the institute has been the leading enroller in seven major national and international studies. The studies treat conditions such as carotid artery stenosis, iliac artery stenosis, carotid artery stenting, coronary bifurcation, renal artery stenting landmark and endarterectomy.
"In addition, we've been selected to chair sessions and give lectures at the largest cardiac and peripheral meetings regarding our clinical research," said Dr. Chris Metzger, who is board-certified in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology and a major player in research at the institute. "This has also led to us authoring a cover story about carotid stenting research for Endovascular Today, a leading publication about cutting-edge technology, techniques and developments in that field."
Other active studies address topics such as heart attack, heart failure and femoral artery stenosis.
Dr. Pabrita Saha, a board-certified interventional cardiologist, estimated he has taken part in 20 to 25 clinical trials during his career.
"The value is great," Dr. Saha said. "Without a trial, you won't know how well a device or a medicine will be able to treat a specific disease in a patient. We're trying to see whether it's better than what's on the market."
Dr. Saha said a current study is investigating whether injecting a drug before the placement of a stent into the artery that has caused a heart attack will sufficiently break up a blood clot.
A second study, which has been completed but is awaiting results, is checking whether ultrasound-guided stent placement makes a difference in the long-term outcome of a patient.
Another study, which was completed about a year ago, is examining whether a stent placed in a narrowing in the kidney artery has an effect on blood pressure that is out of control.
"It's very exciting for us," Dr. Saha said. "Many treatments are available already for so many conditions, but we're not always fully satisfied with those treatments. Not everybody is responding the way we want. A clinical trial will give us good direction and a road map on how to treat those patients in the future.
"We're looking at ways to improve and do better. As a physician, that's exciting."
Dr. Saha said the institute has a strong research department and is part of an organization with a solid sense of teamwork. He said the institute benefits from the patients enrolled in studies – he calls them "real-world patients" who are community oriented. The population from which the institute draws provides a quality database to compare to the patients used by other organizations in other areas who conduct the same trials, he said.
"The research that takes place at the Wellmont CVA Heart Institute is world class and demonstrates the leadership by physicians who are committed to improving the lives of our patients," said Dr. Metzger, who has participated in at least 50 clinical trials. "We are a comprehensive research facility that is making a difference not only in our patients but others across the country as well."
David Warren, a Calvin, Ky., resident, is a patient of Dr. Metzger. Warren is participating in one of the trials and said he is glad to help improve medical care.
"I'm one of those people who is willing to do something to help out others," Warren said. "I've had a good life. If I can do something to help someone else who's alive, that would be great."
Warren said his trial has gone well, and he encourages others to participate in clinical trials.
"Just go for it," Warren said. "There's nothing to lose. You benefit from it definitely, and someone else might benefit even more later. You have to put your trust in your doctor. If you don't trust your doctor, you're wasting his time and yours."
In addition to Dr. Metzger and Dr. Saha, physicians at the institute who are taking part in clinical trials are Drs. John Berry, Stanley Gall, Tyler Greenfield, Anthony Holden, Gregory Jones, Herbert Ladley, Marc Mayhew, James Merrill, Arun Rao, Daniel Simpson and Freddie Williams.
Dr. Chris Metzger shows a stent that would be implanted in the coronary artery. The Wellmont CVA Heart Institute has undertaken many clinical trials studying coronary stenting, including those involving patients who have had heart attacks.
Dr. Chris Metzger shows a stent that would be implanted in the coronary artery. The Wellmont CVA Heart Institute has undertaken many clinical trials studying coronary stenting, including those involving patients who have had heart attacks.
Dr. Chris Metzger holds some pills that have been used in clinical trials.
Dr. Chris Metzger holds a stent. The Wellmont CVA Heart Institute has undertaken many clinical trials studying coronary stenting, including those involving patients who have had heart attacks.
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