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Every year, pulmonary embolisms - blood clots in the lungs - kill tens of thousands of Americans. To date, surgery and clot-busting drugs have been the best treatments for this dangerous condition, but they aren't options for all patients. Specialists at Advocate Christ Medical Center now have another tool to remove those clots quickly and without surgery.
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| Innovative catheter technology uses high-speed saline jets to "vacuum" blood clots out from the lungs. |
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The procedure involves treading a special catheter, called the AngioJet, into the vein near the blood clot. The device emits a high-speed stream of saline solution that creates a tiny vacuum around the clot, breaking it into fragments that are pulled back into the catheter, clearing the vein. Christ Medical Center is one of the first hospitals in the state to use this innovative procedure.
"Similar technology has been used to remove blood clots from vessels leading to the heart," says Surendra Avula, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at Christ Medical Center. "Now, we can use it to eliminate blood clots from the lungs."
Traditional options, while effective, aren't right for all patients. Surgery can bring risks and lengthy recovery periods, and some patients are unable to take clot-busting drugs due to possible drug interactions or complicating health conditions, says Dr. Avula. "AngioJet is a minimally invasive procedure that is a better and safer option for many patients."
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