Davie, Fla.-based HCA Florida University Hospital completed its first minimally invasive thrombectomy to treat pulmonary embolism.
The procedure was performed by hospital interventional cardiologist Adam Bierzynski, MD, on a 67-year-old patient, the hospital said in an Aug. 16 news release shared with Becker's.
"Pulmonary embolism (PE) is generally treated with blood thinners, but in this case a more aggressive treatment was needed," said Dr. Bierzynski. "This is a minimally invasive transcatheter procedure, done through the veins of the legs and traveling up to the lungs."
Dr. Bierzynski utilized the hospital's cath lab, which opened in February. The suite features computed tomography, which allows highly trained physicians to use imaging guidance and nonsurgical, minimally invasive techniques to check a patient's heart and blood supply.