FCHC Heart and Vascular Center

The FCHC Heart & Vascular Center has been completely remodeled in 2024 and now offers a 24/7 Stemi lab.  We are committed to providing superior heart and vascular imaging treatment capabilities within our community. Our staff strives to provide outstanding, compassionate care unique to each of our patients. 

Recent Expansion in 2024

After more than a year of renovation and expansion, FCHC reopened it’s Heart & Vascular Center in November. Since then, two new procedures have been added in the Cath Labs.

Cath Lab Doubles in Size

A major part of the renovation work consisted of remodeling the existing cath. lab and expanding it to add a second lab. Diagnostic services such as EKG, Cardiac Stress testing and echocardiograms were also relocated from other areas of the Health Center to the Heart & Vascular Center for improved productivity and convenience for patients. The second cath. lab now allows for new and more procedures to be performed at the same time.

“We now have the most advanced heart and vascular center in northwest Ohio,” says Charles Gbur Jr., MD, FACC, FSCAI, Interventional Cardiologist. “Our equipment is state-of-the art, and no other hospital in the area has all of these heart-related diagnostic services combined into one area that is conveniently accessible for heart patients.”

Level II Designation

In July 2024, FCHC received a Level II Adult Cardiac Catheterization Health Care Service designation from the Ohio Department of Health. This is an important step up from the original Level I designation, and it allows FCHC to perform Interventional Cardiology procedures in addition to diagnostic procedures.

In both minimally invasive procedures, a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in the arm or leg. The Interventional Cardiologist guides the catheter through the blood vessel to the arteries near the heart. Contrast material and x-rays are used to look for blockages and abnormalities in the vessels.

In a diagnostic cardiac catheterization, the physician examines how the heart is working and to determine if there is a blockage. Interventional catheterization takes it one step further, and the Interventional Cardiologist treats or repairs the heart condition at the same time with a stent once the diagnosis has been made that there is a blockage. Interventional catheterization can eliminate the need for open heart surgery in cases where the blockage can be repaired with a stent. 

New STEMI Lab Open 24/7

On November 5, 2024, the STEMI Lab at the Heart & Vascular Center began operating 24/7. This expansion of hours now allows more people who are experiencing blockage around the heart to receive care locally and faster than ever before.   “This means patients can be diagnosed using heart catheterization and treated on site at the same time right here in Wauseon, any time day or night,” says Dr. Gbur. “With the next closest facility 20 or more minutes away, any delay in care could impact the outcome of the patient. So, offering the intervention here in Wauseon 24/7 not only saves time but is a life-saving service that has been missing from the area.”

Services We Offer Include:

With the opening of our expanded and all new Heart & Vascular Center procedures we currently offer include:

• Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiac Catheterizations
• Pacemakers
• Implantable Cardioverter De­brillators (ICD)
• Pulmonary Embolism (PE) Intervention
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Intervention
• Peripheral Vascular Disease & Intervention
• Renal Denervation
• VenaSeal Procedures
• Transesophageal Echocardiograms (TEE)
• Cardioversions
• Loop Recorders
• Cardiac Stress testing
• Holter/Event Monitors
• Echocardiograms
• EKG
• Interventional Radiology procedures

At FCHC Heart & Vascular Center, we are excited to be able to provide advanced heart, vascular and hypertension care for you and your loved one s right here when you need it.

Specialized Treatment

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

Our Vascular Center offers a broad range of minimally invasive procedures aimed at assessing blood circulation. A common disruption of circulation is Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). This is a progressive condition that causes narrowing or blockages of arteries within the arms, legs, neck and abdomen. These patients

can experience a wide range of symptoms including pain, swelling, numbness, change in skin color and poor wound healing.

To diagnose PAD, x-ray dye is administered through a catheter placed within the blood stream, allowing the doctor to determine the extent of disease. This type of x-ray procedure is referred to as an Angiogram. Using these results, the doctor can recommend a plan for treatment.

Treatment options include: 

• Balloon Angioplasty – A miniature “balloon” is inflated to widen the narrow segment of the vessel and increase blood flow.
• Stents- A wire mesh device inserted into the vessel, which improves blood flow and helps relieve symptoms of the disease by keeping the dilated artery open
• Atherectomy- The plaque inside the artery is removed (shaved) from the wall of the artery to restore blood flow.

Dialysis

A fistulogram is a specialized angiogram used to visualize and restore the blood flow within the fistula (access site) for dialysis patients. We also perform the insertion of tunneled catheters to prevent disruption to their dialysis treatment.

Vascular Access

Our Vascular team is also specially trained to use ultrasound guidance for a variety of vascular access needs. This ultrasound technique can be used for patients who have difficult IV access or patients requiring specialty IV’s (PICC lines or Midlines) used for long term therapies.

Cardiac Services

• Loop Recorders – implantable heart monitors that detect irregular, fast or slow heart rhythms.
• Transesphogeal Echocardiogram (TEE) – an ultrasound procedure viewing the structures of the heart. This is performed from inside the esophagus, whereas a traditional echo records images from a probe outside the chest wall.
• Cardioversion – is performed to assist the heart to return to a regular rhythm. Many times, this is done for patients in Atrial fibrillation who experience shortness of breath or fatigue.
• Pacemaker / Internal cardiac defibrillator – Pacemakers are used to help control abnormal heart rhythms. Internal cardiac defibrillators are used to detect dangerously fast heartbeats and give a lifesaving shock to correct the heart rhythm.

For more information, please call 419-337-7314.