Rogelio Landin’s Journey to Heart Recovery

My name is Rogelio Landin and, at age 59, I began experiencing pain in my leg. Since I had a history of heart disease, I scheduled a routine appointment with my cardiologist. During this time, I was working full-time as president of an equity resource education company and, other than the discomfort in my leg, I felt great! I was shocked when my cardiologist discovered three of my coronary arteries were almost completely blocked and told me I was a “heart attack waiting to happen.” I was also told that I may not survive a triple bypass surgery. I was sent to Detroit Medical Center where Dr. Theodore Schreiber offered me an alternative to surgery, a procedure known as a Protected PCI. He planned to use the Impella CP®, which had just been approved for use, to support my heart. As it turned out, I was the first patient to ever receive the Impella CP! It was truly the icing on the cake to be part of medical history.

I was fully awake during the procedure so I could provide important feedback to the catheterization lab staff as they inserted the Impella. Aside from a little pressure, I felt no pain or discomfort. The Impella allowed my heart to rest and the physicians were able to open the blockages in my heart arteries. Just two days after my procedure, I walked out of the hospital and was home with my family. To the amazement of my friends, family and colleagues, I chaired a board meeting just two days after my procedure. I was 110% full steam ahead! This experience has taught me about the importance of choice. I participated and contributed in the decision-making process for my treatment and ultimately took control of my health by choosing heart recovery.

Today, nearly eight years after my procedure, I’m still working full-time and leading my company into the future of digital education. I want to remind people to be proactive when it comes to heart health and encourage others in similar situations to inquire about the option for heart recovery.

Next Steps:

• Learn about PCI vs. Protected PCI: What is the Difference and Which One is Right for Me?
• Learn more about PCI and Protected PCI procedures and find out how the Impella® pump works.
• Find out how you can talk with your cardiologist and discover if Protected PCI is right for you.
• Watch patient stories of heart recovery to learn how Protected PCI with Impella has helped qualified heart patients get the care they need.