Back on Track
Fitness Enthusiast Receives Advanced Treatment for Pulmonary Embolism
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In his shoes: Tom Raspet last April struggled through a 10-mile race. A minimally invasive treatment for pulmonary embolism allowed him to run, swim and bike again. |
For Tom Raspet, running a competitive 10-mile race along the George Washington Parkway last April was a routine event. Just six weeks earlier, he had finished a half-marathon at lightning speed. But with every step he took in the 10-miler, the 58-year-old felt sluggish and short-of-breath, clocking the slowest race times of his running career.
Four days following the race, Raspet was climbing the stairs at his office, where he works as a contracting officer to the U.S. Postal Service, when suddenly he could barely breathe and he felt sharp stabbing pains in his chest.
“In my office I always take the stairs, not the elevators, so when I was walking upstairs I knew something was wrong because I couldn’t make two flights without stopping,” Raspet remembers.
Raspet was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, the sudden blockage of major arteries that carry oxygen-rich blood into the lungs. The condition can be life-threatening, but with the immediate help of the interventional radiology team at Inova Alexandria Hospital, Raspet was able to receive the urgent care he needed.
Without Warning
Pulmonary embolism can happen quickly and without warning. It occurs when a blood clot migrates to the main arteries in the lungs from another part of the body, usually from the leg veins. Although anyone is vulnerable to pulmonary embolism, there are certain factors that increase your risk, such as extended periods of inactivity during travel or bed rest, valve malfunction in your veins, deep vein thrombosis or clotting in the legs, dehydration, pregnancy, joint replacement surgery, cancer or heart disease.
Inova Alexandria Hospital offers the latest in minimally invasive interventional therapies for treating pulmonary embolism. Using a collaborative approach, the medical team is composed of physicians, nurses and technologists who are highly specialized in interventional radiology, pulmonary medicine and critical care, emergency medicine and cardiology.
Advanced Technique
What helped Raspet through the acute stages of pulmonary embolism, and may have saved his life, was the medical team’s high-tech approach at Inova Alexandria Hospital. Upon arrival at the hospital, Raspet was evaluated with a computed tomography angiogram (CTA) involving a CT scan of the chest and an injection of X-ray dye. The test revealed an extensive clot throughout the pulmonary arteries and significant strain on the right side of his heart. His clot was caused by a genetic disorder known as hypercoagulability, in which the body is more prone to forming clots.
Keith M. Sterling, MD, Medical Director of the Department of Cardiovascular & Interventional Radiology, was consulted to offer a state-of-the-art, minimally invasive treatment. Using the EkoSonic Endovascular System, Dr. Sterling threaded a catheter through a vein at the top of Raspet’s leg directly into the pulmonary artery in the lung, through which he delivered ultrasound energy into the clot to loosen it, and a medication called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) to dissolve the clot.
“The EkoSonic Endovascular System is a revolutionary device, which allows the safe delivery of thrombolytics, such as tPA, into the peripheral vascular system,” says Dr. Sterling. “The use of ultrasound energy allows for a shorter duration and lower dosage of tPA, leading to a much safer procedure with less risk of possible bleeding complications associated with the traditional use of clot-buster medications.” As the clot dissolved, Raspet’s heart did not have to work as hard and his condition improved dramatically. After the procedure, he was placed on the blood-thinning agents Lovenox and Coumadin under the close supervision of his cardiologist.
On the Right Path
For Raspet, getting back to his strenuous exercise regimen has been smooth. He’s back to running five to eight miles a day, swimming a half-mile three times week and cycling 10 to 20 miles on the weekends.
And he knows the medical team at Inova Alexandria Hospital is behind him every step of the way. “The medical team was very helpful; they were definitely concerned with my care and well-being,” he says. “Their approach is, live your normal life and your medical team can adjust the medicine to meet your needs and lifestyle, which is really very good.” For Raspet, that may mean running another half-marathon, in record time.
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According to the U.S. Surgeon General, more than 600,000 people suffer from pulmonary embolism each year. You can lower your risk by following these simple strategies that can boost your overall health as well:
General lifestyle Tips:
Travel Tips:
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It’s a Trial
Inova Alexandria Hospital is one of 25 facilities in the country participating in SEATTLE II, an FDA-approved clinical trial using the EkoSonic Endovascular System to treat pulmonary embolism. To learn more, go here.
