A Buckeye woman is recovering after doctors at Abrazo West Campus used advanced heart pump technology to support her through a life-threatening cardiac event earlier this year.

Deanna Morehead had gone to bed on March 25 when she suddenly sat up and collapsed. She had suffered a heart attack, the kind that only about 10% to 12% of people survive if it occurs outside a hospital setting, according to the American Heart Association.

“Deanna had an acute heart attack, when a dominant coronary artery is 100% suddenly blocked, resulting in a biventricular heart failure, when the main two chambers of the heart fail to provide adequate blood flow to the vital organs,” said Dr. Saif Al-Qaisi, an interventional cardiologist at Abrazo West Campus.

Morehead’s boyfriend, 49, immediately began CPR while waiting for emergency responders to arrive.

“I have no recollection of my heart attack. I had felt fine all day; in fact, I had just driven us home after going out to dinner, so I had no idea my heart was about to fail,” said Morehead.

She was taken to the Goodyear Abrazo West Campus, where Al-Qaisi placed a stent in her right coronary artery. Despite the initial success, Morehead was in biventricular heart failure, requiring additional intervention.

Al-Qaisi received approval to use an Impella RP Flex device, a miniature mechanical circulatory support pump, to assist the right side of her heart. He also inserted a traditional Impella CP device to support the left side.

The devices were placed through an artery and a vein in her leg and navigated to her heart, where they temporarily took over the job of pumping blood, allowing her heart time to rest and recover.

This was the first time the Impella RP Flex device had been used at Abrazo West Campus.

Morehead was later transferred by air to Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital, where she remained for three weeks.

“At first, I could not roll over in my hospital bed, shower or feed myself. Now, I am home, doing all those things plus more on my own and going through cardiac rehabilitation, but I’m a go-getter and I feel lucky and happy to be alive,” she said.

“Her case illustrates the extraordinary capabilities of our heart team and the life-saving technology now available at Abrazo West Campus,” said Al-Qaisi. “The availability of Impella RP Flex and Impella CP technology expands our ability to treat patients experiencing severe cardiac events right here in our community.”