Catawba Valley Cardiology's Dr. Luke Byrnes performs the region's first-ever radial heart catheterization

HICKORY, N.C. — Last week, Dr. Luke J. Byrnes and the team at Catawba Valley Medical Center’s Heart Catheterization Lab performed the region’s first-ever radial heart catheterization -- a revolutionary diagnostic and treatment technique for coronary artery disease.

The method, which goes through the wrist as opposed through the femoral artery in the groin, reduces recovery times, bruising and the risk of severe bleeding.

Although the traditional method has been widely successful since the 1950s, it can be problematic, especially in obese patients or those with circulatory problems. Occasionally, it has been linked to heavy bleeding. Two recent studies in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and The American Heart Journal compared outcomes for nearly 600,000 catheterizations over a 28-year period. Both reports found more than a 70 percent reduction in bleeding and shorter hospital stays for those patients who underwent radial procedures.

“When appropriate, the radial method is extremely convenient for the patient,” said Dr. Byrnes. “Post-operative bed rest isn’t necessary and unless patients requested sedatives, they can right themselves and walk to the recovery room. Since there are no activity restrictions, patients can go back to doing the things they love the very next morning.”

Byrnes joined Catawba Valley Cardiology in April of this year and is board certified in internal medicine, nuclear cardiology, adult comprehensive echocardiography, cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology. As both an interventional and clinical cardiologist, he is able to help prevent, diagnose and treat a wide range of cardiac diseases.

After graduating from New York Medical College in 2003, Byrnes completed an internal medicine internship and residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan, followed by fellowships in both cardiology and interventional cardiology. He earned both Level II and III certifications with over 300 interventional procedures performed. Prior to joining the staff at CVMC, Byrnes worked as an interventional cardiologist at Meadville Medical Center, in Meadville, PA. He is a member of the American College of Cardiology and is bi-lingual in English and Spanish.

Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory is the region’s largest not-for-profit, public healthcare system and serves the community without direct funding from taxes.

CVMC has received three Magnet designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and has been recognized for providing “An Outstanding Inpatient Experience” for a fourth consecutive year by J.D. Power and Associates.

For more information, visit www.catawbavalleymedical.org.

WSOC