Alberta Health Services says a new minimally invasive procedure to remove blood clots in the lungs is now available at Calgary’s Foothills Medical Centre as well as three Edmonton hospitals.
The health authority said the treatment provides an option for post-operative patients who cannot receive clot-busting medication and would otherwise require thoracic surgery.
According to the release, the procedure uses continuous X-ray imaging to guide a catheter through a vein and into the lungs to remove blockages. Once clots are extracted, blood flow is restored immediately, significantly reducing risk of heart failure and death.
“For post-operative patients where medication is not an option, immediate removal of the clots is essential to saving the patient,” said Dr. Kiran Reddy, an interventional radiologist in Edmonton, in the Aug. 13 release. “The risk of death is very high with post-surgical patients presenting with a pulmonary embolism, so the ability to act quickly and remove the clots in an interventional suite is a game-changer for patients.”
“This procedure was first performed last March as part of a pilot project at Royal Alexandra Hospital and University of Alberta Hospital, and is now the standard treatment at these two hospitals, as well as at the Stollery Children’s Hospital and Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary,” the release said.
More than 50 of the procedures have been performed in the Edmonton Zone over the past year, according to the release.
Dave Batke, 58, opted for the new procedure last October after developing a pulmonary embolism following back surgery.
“My lungs were filled with clots,” Batke said in the release. “I was gasping for air and it felt like I had a huge weight on my chest.”
He said Reddy used suction to remove each clot during a two-hour procedure.
“Dr. Reddy spent two hours cleaning out my lungs, including one clot that was eight inches long,” Batke said. “I was out of the hospital four days later feeling immediate relief from my chest. I had a life-saving procedure that didn’t involve invasive surgery. I am so thankful. It brings a lot of hope for others like me.”
“Most patients are under mild sedation during the procedure, which typically lasts one to two hours,” the release said. “Many patients often feel immediate symptom relief during the procedure, which is designed for the minimally invasive removal of large clots in a single session.”
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