As an orthopedic surgeon, Christopher Iobst, MD, didn’t consider himself at high risk for any of the life-threatening diseases physicians are trained to treat.
That made having a heart attack at work both life-changing and humbling. He attributes his survival and smooth recovery to the excellent care he received at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
“I’m a stubborn surgeon, so I tried to take care of my medical issues myself,” says Dr. Iobst, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and director of the Center for Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
On March 7, 2023, Dr. Iobst realized he should have been paying more attention to his heart. That day, he became so hot he wanted to rip off his shirt.
“The moment I started dry heaving into my trash can, even as a bone doctor, I realized something was seriously wrong,” Dr. Iobst says.
Dr. Iobst headed to Ohio State’s Emergency Department, where he was treated by cardiac surgeon Kukbin Choi, MD, who performed coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG – a common but complex open-heart surgery.
“From the moment I arrived, to the moment I was on the cardiac catheterization lab table was extremely fast, like the snap of your fingers,” Dr. Iobst says.
Dr. Choi, an assistant clinical professor of Surgery, says this surgery was more stressful than usual.
“Honestly, doing a case of surgery on another surgeon is really stressful, especially when he’s a younger patient with coronary disease,” he says.
In the cath lab, Dr. Iobst learned he was actively having a heart attack. At the time, he was only 53.
“When we see a strong family history or signs of heart disease at a young age, there’s definitely some genetic link,” Dr. Choi says.
Today, Dr. Iobst is grateful for every day of his life.
“I’m pretty sure that how quickly they responded saved my life,” he says.
Read more about Dr. Iobst’s story and Dr. Choi’s fast approach to rehabilitation