LAKEWOOD, NJ - Deep Vein Thrombosis
(DVT) is the formation of a blood clot in one of the deep
veins within the body, such as in the leg or pelvis. When
a blood clot travels from the legs or pelvic areas and lodges
in a lung artery, the condition is known as a pulmonary embolism,
or PE, a potentially fatal condition if not immediately diagnosed
and treated.
There are many reasons a blood clot can form, including
prolonged immobility, trauma, predisposition to blood clots,
as well as other conditions such as cancer, increasing age,
stroke, pregnancy, surgery or respiratory failure. While
DVT is serious, the more serious condition occurs when the
blood clot breaks away from the vein and travels through
the bloodstream to the heart or lungs.
Kimball Medical Center’s Interventional Radiologists
are now utilizing a new, advanced system to perform thrombectomy
and remove clots. The new Angiojet Rheolytic Thrombectomy
System allows the physicians to treat several different types
of clots with the use of multiple sized catheters, which
greatly increases their effectiveness.
“A thrombectomy is a procedure often recommended to
patients with severe cases of DVT. During a thrombectomy,
the blood clot is located with the use of ultrasound. Once
the clot is located, we then use a catheter to extract or
remove the clot,” explains Lev Pukin, MD, Interventional
Radiologist at Kimball. “Once the clot is successfully
removed, blood flow is once again restored back through the
veins,” he says.
“The use of this new equipment makes the procedure
safer and less time-consuming for patients,” said Dr.
Pukin. “It also significantly reduces the patient’s
recovery time.”
Thrombectomy is usually only recommended for major clots
higher up in the leg, and particularly in active, healthy
patients without any serious associated diseases. It can
significantly reduce the serious consequences of DVT, such
as chronic leg swelling, discoloration and, ultimately, ankle
ulcers.
If you are particularly concerned about your risk of DVT,
talk to your doctor about preventative screening. There are
many different screening techniques available to monitor
blood flow in the legs. The most common is through the use
of ultrasound to evaluate circulation in the lower extremities.
Kimball Medical Center’s Radiology Department is conveniently
located on the Ground Floor of the hospital with easy access
and plenty of parking. The radiologists at Kimball are highly
experienced and perform over 90,000 imaging studies annually. All
radiologists are board-certified by the American Board of
Radiology, are fellowship-trained, and are highly specialized
in areas including neuro-imaging, muscular-skeletal, body
imaging, and general radiology.
Radiology appointments can be made by simply calling the
Radiology scheduling access line at 1-888-SBHS-123 (1-888-724-7123)
and pressing option #2.
Date: April 7, 2009
CONTACT: Carrie Cristello
Director, Public Relations
732-923-6552
ccristello@sbhcs.com
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