Banner Good Samaritan first in the Valley to perform operation that treats chronic blood clots in lungs
First pulmonary thromboendarterectomy performed at Phoenix hospital
PHOENIX (Nov. 6, 2009) – Pulmonologists and cardiothoracic surgeons at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center performed the hospital’s first pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) on Thursday, Nov. 5.
PTEs remove clotted blood from the pulmonary arteries, which typically lead to complications due to the obstruction of blood flow through the lungs and pressure on the right ventricle of the heart. Patients with chronic blood clots in the lungs may experience difficulty breathing, chest pain on inspiration and palpitations, as well as low blood oxygen saturation and cyanosis, rapid breathing and a rapid heart rate.
The operation involves a full cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), deep hypothermia and full cardiac arrest, with the critical procedure carried out in a standstill operation.
“It is exciting that this technology and surgical expertise to treat this severe pulmonary disease is now available at Banner Good Samaritan. Previously, patients would have to travel to San Diego or Pittsburgh for the operation, and stay there for a prolonged periods of time to recover,” said Dr. David Baratz, pulmonologist at Banner Good Samaritan. “The patients that did not undergo surgery require oxygen, blood thinners and expensive medications. These treatments do not cure the disease, however, and patients still have severe symptoms. Now with surgery the disease is almost reversed.”
The PTE was performed by Dr. Orazio Amabile, cardiothoracic surgeon at Banner Good Samaritan, and assisted by Dr. Mark Tasset.
The operation is believed to be the first PTE performed in the Valley. Prior to performing the surgery at Banner Good Samaritan, patients were referred out of state for care.
About Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center
Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center has been providing medical care to Arizona and the Southwest since 1911. Banner Good Samaritan is owned and operated by Phoenix-based Banner Health, a not-organization. The hospital was named to the 2009-’10 U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” list for Gynecology, Heart & Heart Surgery and Kidney Disorders. Banner Good Samaritan has been recognized as a Magnet™ facility by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the highest honor a hospital can earn for its nursing care and practices, and has been named one of the Best Places to Work in the Valley by The Phoenix Business Journal and BestCompaniesAZ in 2007 and 2008 and one of the “Top 100 Hospitals to Work For” by Nursing Professionals magazine.
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