“They told me I was going to the main hospital for a possible procedure and would be admitted to the intensive care unit,” Rick says.
Dr. Singh says treatment for saddle pulmonary embolisms is tailored to each patient’s condition. Anticoagulant medication is the primary treatment for most pulmonary embolisms. More severe or life-threatening cases may require clot-dissolving medication, catheter-based treatment such as mechanical thrombectomy, or surgical removal of the clot.
“Rick’s condition required urgent evaluation and treatment,” Dr. Singh says. “In his case, a heavy clot burden in both pulmonary arteries was straining the right side of his heart, lowering his oxygen level and contributing to low blood pressure. Because a saddle pulmonary embolism with these high-risk findings can cause rapid deterioration, we made the emergent decision to proceed with catheter-based mechanical thrombectomy.”
The clot was successfully removed from both the right and left pulmonary arteries, resulting in a dramatic improvement in Rick’s breathing and oxygen requirements. A follow-up echocardiogram showed his heart had returned to normal function, size, and dimensions.
Rick explained that in the catheterization lab where his procedure was done, he was sedated but not completely unconscious. He could see and hear what was going on, and he even saw pictures of the embolism. After the procedure to remove the clot and monitoring in the hospital, he was sent home to recover further. Rick did have a few more issues keeping his blood pressure at normal levels, but once he got those under control, he’s been fine ever since.
Having worked decades in healthcare in a pulmonary rehabilitation capacity, with many of those years at LVHN, Rick knows healthcare well. He was impressed with the smoothness, efficiency, and high-level of consideration and care he and his wife were provided with during his stay.
“The system worked the way it should,” Rick says. “I was evaluated, diagnosed, and treated quickly, and that most likely saved my life.”