“They saved my life - twice!”

In 2019, Ayman Marei (52), former Head of Fureidis Council, was rushed to the Emergency Room at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center suffering from severe chest pain. During resuscitation efforts, he was taken for catheterization, where the doctors diagnosed a blockage in one his arteries and inserted a stent. A few months ago, Marei returned with chest pain. He was found to have a blockage of the main artery and had to undergo bypass surgery. He had no choice but to undergo the surgery at a hospital in northern Israel. About a month ago, he returned to Hillel Yaffe and underwent a series of tests to understand the cause of the pain. After failing the cardiac stress test, Cardiology Division Director Prof. Ariel Roguin decided to treat him with medication and wait six weeks to repeat the test.

Cardiology Division Director, Prof. Ariel Roguin, and Ayman Marei on the day he was discharged from the department

A week later, Marei felt unwell again, returned to the Emergency Room and was admitted to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Director of the Catheterization Unit, Dr. Rami Abu Fanne, found that blood was not reaching an area of the heart and performed cardiac catheterization. During the procedure, which was performed by Prof. Roguin and Dr. Abu Fanne, the bypasses appeared to be clogged, meaning that blood was not flowing properly. Due to the risk of having to undergo additional bypass surgery, the physicians were forced to use a special pump that circulates blood from the heart to the aorta in order to allow the proper flow of blood and oxygen in the event that Marei’s heart stopped working. The catheterization was a success, and Marei was connected to the pump throughout the procedure.

This week he was discharged home, feeling well, but did not leave without thanking the entire team. “I would like to thank all the staff in the Cardiology Division, and especially Dr. Roguin and Dr. Abu Fanne for the dedicated and caring treatment. You saved my life - twice,” said Marei.

Prof. Roguin and Dr. Abu Fanne, who performed the catheterization on Marei, said, “This was a very complex catheterization that forced us to use a special pump to ensure blood flow in case his heart stopped working. During the catheterization, we needed to place five stents, and, in fact, we were able to prevent him from having to undergo another bypass surgery, with all the complications involved. We are delighted that the catheterization was a success and that Marei is feeling well.”