Lafourche sheriff Craig Webre says he is recovering after treatment for heart blockage
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre said today that he is recovering at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center after treatment for a heart blockage.
"Sunday evening I unexpectedly developed chest pains and was brought to the emergency room," the sheriff posted to his Facebook page, accompanied by photo from his hospital bed. "As is typical of my situation — commonly referred to as the "widow-maker" — it is asymptomatic and often fatal.
"But for the hand of God guiding the lifesaving measures of the doctors and medical staff, I would have perished that night."
A so-called widow-maker usually refers to a blockage of the left anterior descending artery, which supplies blood to the larger, front part of the heart, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
"Because it serves such a big portion of the heart, the LAD artery is a particularly dangerous place to get a clot," the clinic says. "A lot of damage can be done to the heart muscle if blood flow isn’t restored quickly."
Such a blockage is usually treated one of two ways: bypass surgery or angioplasty, in which a ballon is inserted into the artery to open it and a wire mesh called a "stent" is implanted to keep it open.
Webre said he is grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, phone calls and gestures of concern he has received.
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"Without being presumptuous, if you are contemplating sending flowers or a get well gift, please donate to the American Heart Association instead."
The Sheriff's Office had issued a notice Monday via Facebook that Webre had suffered a medical emergency.
"His family is requesting privacy and understanding, and they are requesting no visitors so he can rest," the post said. "While we cannot share any further details at this time, Sheriff Webre will address his condition at a later date when possible."
Courier and Daily Comet Executive Editor Keith Magill can be reached at 857-2201 or keith.magill@houmatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on Daily Comet: Lafourche Sheriff Craig Webre says he is recovering after heart scare
