After Chesterton resident Karin McKenna developed deep vein thrombosis or DVT and was unable to walk or move around; she needed answers. She got them through Dr. Anas Safadi.
Deep vein thrombosis or DVT is a serious disease that involves the formation of a blood clot deep in the veins of the leg. The condition can cause severe pain and swelling and may be fatal if the clot breaks up and travels to the person’s lung. DVT affects as many as 900,000 Americans every year, according to CDC estimates.
Cardiologist Anas Safadi, MD is medical director of the LIVE program. He conducted a two-part interventional procedure to address McKenna’s DVT. She believes that Safadi saved her leg and possibly her life.
“My recovery was great,” says McKenna, 68. “I have no residual symptoms. I am doing fine. Dr. Safadi was right on top of it and did some amazing things,” she says.
“Deep vein thrombosis is basically an extensive clot in the deep venous system, the main veins that drain the leg,” Safadi explains. “It’s a very common, but dangerous condition. Mrs. McKenna had an ultrasound in the ED that showed severe, extensive thrombosis involving her whole leg.”
The danger in McKenna’s condition, DVT, is that a portion of the clot could break off and travel to her lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism which could be fatal within a few hours. Removing the clot as quickly and as safely as possible became a life-or-death priority.
“If that clot had broken off and floated to the lungs, it could have killed her,” Safadi says.
To clear the clot, Safadi conducted a catheterization procedure that involves inserting technology called EKOS, a tiny device that uses sound waves to push clot-busting medication deep into the clot itself. In this case, the medication used was low-dose tissue plasminogen activator or tPA, the same drug administered to stroke patients. This procedure causes the clot to dissolve rapidly.
“These patients are best treated early on,” Safadi continues. “That is where you get the best results. Although we can do chronic DVT intervention with patients who have had DVT more than six months ago, it is easiest and best done within two to six weeks of the diagnosis.”
For more information about the symptoms of DVT or other circulatory issues in the legs, visit COMHS.org/heart.
