How Williamson Medical Center’s State-Of-The-Art Cardiac Care and Newly Updated Cardiac Catheterization Capabilities Helped Save Bob Langsdon’s Life

Originally published in YOUR Williamson —

Bob Langsdon doesn’t remember much about the day he had a heart attack last year, but his family does.

“He was driving, and he stopped right in front of the UPS store,” his wife, Annette, recalled. “I looked at him, and I saw that something was wrong, so I called 911.”

Annette watched as local first responders, including Williamson Health EMS, arrived and began working to save her husband’s life. They quickly transported Bob to Williamson Medical Center, where Amit Keswani, M.D., an interventional cardiologist, stepped in.

“There were a lot of factors that were not necessarily in Bob’s favor,” Dr. Keswani said, “so we took him immediately to a cardiac catheterization suite.”

By using state-of-the-art technology, Dr. Keswani and his team were able to quickly identify and repair the artery that had caused Bob’s heart to stop.

“In general, patients that present with cardiogenic shock and out-of-hospital arrest—like Bob—have a 50% mortality rate,” Dr. Keswani said. “We were able to fix the artery—the artery that runs down the front of your heart—but I wanted the family to understand how sick Bob was.”

While Bob benefited from the advanced technologies available in Williamson Medical Center’s cardiac catheterization lab, the transformational expansion and renovation project has enhanced the flagship hospital’s cardiac offerings even more. The new Cardiac Center houses two state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization labs as well as a brand new electrophysiology (EP) lab and pre- and post-procedure holding and recovery areas.

In addition, the center includes the cutting-edge technologies physicians need to perform a full range of diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures including inserting pacemakers, performing cardiac ablations, angioplasties and more. These technologies enhance physicians’ ability to perform complex cardiac procedures with equipment capable of delivering real-time, high-quality imaging of heart and blood flow.  

Even now, Bob doesn’t remember much about that fateful day.

“I have no memory of the events as they happened,” Bob recalled, “but since then, I’ve come to realize how much care I did get. It’s been a blessing to be here.”

Williamson Health is known for high-quality care, a fact that recent recognitions underscore. In May, Williamson Medical Center earned the prestigious Gold Seal of Approval® from The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark for Primary Heart Attack Center Certification. The designations reflect the hospital’s commitment to excellence in cardiac care and attest to the cardiac care team’s ability to rapidly assess, diagnose and treat patients experiencing heart attacks, ensuring timely intervention and optimized outcomes.

For the Langsdon family, having access to exceptional healthcare options right at home in Williamson County was crucial when their family needed it most.

“It used to be thought that you had to go to Nashville for heart care,” said Karen Paris, Bob’s daughter. “It’s wonderful to know that in Williamson County we have such an elite team of people who really provide top-notch care. We’re just so thankful.”

To learn more about Williamson Medical Center’s award-winning cardiac care, click here.