A patient was recently admitted to Christian Hospital for a pulmonary embolism, this is when blood flow to the lungs is restricted due to a clot blocking the blood vessel. Typically, this disease can be managed with medications and does not need an invasive procedure. However, in some cases of pulmonary embolism, pharmaceutical therapy is not enough, and thrombectomy is required. Thrombectomy is the emergency surgical removal of clot that blocks blood circulation.
Our patient had chest pain and shortness of breath that began one week prior and was progressively getting worse. The patient subsequently called 911 and arrived at the Christian Hospital Emergency Department (ED) by ambulance. The patient was worked up in the ED and was admitted shortly after with the diagnosis of saddle pulmonary embolism, a particular type of pulmonary embolism that blocks both the left and right lung blood vessels from the heart preventing the body from getting the oxygen it needs. This is a life-threatening condition.
Due to the quick diagnosis in the ED, the patient was immediately started on anticoagulation medication, a type of medication that breaks down blood clots. Their care was closely followed by our hospitalist in conjunction with consulting Pulmonology and Cardiology physicians. Our team of physicians worked closely together to come up with the treatment plan that follows the latest research and guidelines.
Unfortunately, our patient’s conditioned worsened overnight and required more oxygen due to the clot blocking more blood flow. However, the close monitoring of the patient’s condition by our team of physicians in consultation with physicians at Washington University School of Medicine allowed us to fast-track treatment with thrombectomy to save our patient’s life. Our team of physicians worked together with St. Louis Heart and Vascular physicians and industry leaders in medical devices to treat our patient within hours of identifying the need for emergent intervention.
The patient was brought to the Cardiac Cath Lab, where St. Louis Heart and Vascular cardiologists used the Penumbra engine, an industry leading vacuum, to safely remove the clot with minimal blood loss.
The expertise that St. Louis Heart and Vascular brings and the medical technology that is available to do these procedures on such a short notice is due to the close relationship that Christian Hospital has with both private physicians and industry leaders.
“Thanks to the collaboration between Christian Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis Heart and Vascular and the medical industry, we are able to orchestrate a rapid response in unrivaled time,” says Jacques Van Ryn, MD, chief of the Christian Hospital medical staff. “The skills that we have available here combined with the way our staff works together is what saved this patients life.”