As a chiropractor with a local private practice, Audie Klingler is very involved in his community in western Maryland. In addition to his job, Audie stays active through golfing, playing pickleball, and walking, so he didn’t overthink it when he began experiencing shortness of breath in June 2022.
“There were two occasions when I experienced shortness of breath. I just rubbed my chest, and it seemed to dissipate, so I wasn’t too worried,” Audie says. “A few weeks later, I started having pain in my left foot, so I decided to do an x-ray on myself.”
Upon examining the x-ray, Audie noticed there were calcium particles in the arteries of his foot. Unsure of what this meant, Audie decided to see a doctor and undergo a calcium score test. This test is a CT scan that looks at how much calcium is in your coronary arteries, determining whether you have any plaque buildup or blockages.
“My calcium score was very high and showed that my left carotid artery was closing and left anterior descending artery (LAD) and right coronary artery were both 90% blocked,” Audie says. “I scheduled an appointment at UPMC to decide next steps.”
The Path to UPMC
Audie first saw cardiac surgeon Mark Nelson, MD, to discuss the condition of his carotid artery.
“My left carotid artery wasn’t bad enough for surgery, so Dr. Nelson recommended we wait," Audie says. "I then followed with my physician assistant Eric, who suggested I get a cardiac catheterization, so he referred me to Dr. Alkhatib."
Cardiologist Hani Alkhatib, MD, performed a cardiac catheterization on Audie to determine if he would need stenting in his coronary arteries or surgery.
“I was only in the cath lab for five minutes when Dr. Alkhatib discovered I would need surgery," Audie says. "I was wheeled back into the room with my wife, and we discussed next steps. He told me I would need a double or triple bypass."
After learning he would need surgery, Audie scheduled an appointment with Dr. Nelson for the following week.
“When I went in for my appointment with Dr. Nelson, I was in no rush to get the surgery since I didn’t have any pain mainly because of my collateral arteries," Audie says. "After discussing with Dr. Nelson, he recommended he operate as soon as possible, so I was scheduled for surgery the next Thursday."
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery at UPMC
Audie returned to UPMC Western Maryland the following week and underwent coronary artery bypass surgery performed by Dr. Nelson. During this procedure, the surgeon creates a new pathway that bypasses the blocked artery and improves blood flow to the heart.
“I had such a great experience recovering in the hospital after surgery," Audie says. "Dr. Nelson explained everything, and his team in the cardiovascular unit were amazing and made me feel incredibly comfortable. I was impressed by the quality of care so close to home.”
After doctors discharged him from the hospital, Audie attended 12 weeks of cardiac rehabilitation to strengthen his heart. Home health care also visited Audie and assisted him in walking down his street and up steps.
Carotid Endarterectomy at UPMC
With his strength regained, Audie returned to work and began traveling again with his family. While doctors had unblocked his coronary arteries, Audie continued to undergo regular Doppler ultrasounds to monitor his left carotid artery. This is a special ultrasound that monitors blood flow.
“In July 2024, my ultrasound showed that my carotid artery was getting narrower," Audie says. "Dr. Nelson told me the sooner the better for surgery and then asked me if I was free tomorrow, so I went in the next day for my procedure."
The next day, Audie underwent a carotid endarterectomy at UPMC. During this procedure, the surgeon removes plaque to treat the narrowed artery and restore proper blood flow to the brain.
“The procedure was successful, and I was sent home from the hospital the next day," Audie says. "Home health care visited me for the first couple of days, but then I was cleared. Soon enough, I was back playing golf and pickleball and working part-time.”
On the Mend
Audie credits his friends and family for his ability to persevere through this experience.
“I have a few friends who have undergone bypass surgery, and they made sure to reach out to me a couple times a week to chat," Audie says. "It made all the difference and kept my mood up. My wife Johna was amazing, and my family was also by my side throughout the entire experience."
When asked about his overall experience at UPMC, Audie emphasized the impressive quality of care available in his community.
“I truly think we have the best cardiologists and cardiac surgeons right here in western Maryland," Audie says. "They are second to none. I tell people all the time — You don’t have to travel for care. Get your procedure done here at UPMC."
Audie spends his time being active and traveling with his heart stronger than ever. He enjoys playing golf with his grandson and exploring new places with his wife. He sees his UPMC primary care physician, Sunil Gupta, MD, regularly to monitor his heart health.
Audie's treatment and results may not be representative of all similar cases.
