Archbold Medical Center| Archives Magazine | Winter 2018

ARCHBOLD.ORG • WINTER 2018 15 deep into the clot, penetrating diffi- cult-to-reach places, such as valves, and allowing immediate dispersion of the medication to dissolve the clot. The physicians are using the EKOS technology to treat life-threatening blood clots like pulmonary embolisms (dangerous blockages in pulmonary arteries in the lungs), severe deep venous thrombosis (DVT; when a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in the body, usually in the legs), and arte- rial thrombosis in the pelvic region (blood clots that form in the deep veins in the pelvic region). “Any EKOS procedure is an inpatient and emergency procedure,” said Dr. Yokley. “Patients are sedated through IV conscious seda- tion. There is no intubation or general anesthesia. We use catheters, guide wires and x-rays to place the catheter directly into the clots in the affected arteries. The ultrasound waves help drive the medication directly into the clot and dissolve the clots.” Dr. Yokley said that typically patients don’t require general anesthesia or even stitches, and most patients are able to go home within a few days and resume normal activities after the procedure. “The technology has really transformed the way physicians are able to treat dangerous blood clots, like pulmonary embolisms, severe DVT cases and arterial thrombosis,” said Dr. Daniel. “We’re able to dissolve the pulmonary embolism clot and decrease heart strain and the chance of disability through pulmonary artery hypertension or even death. “As far as treating clots in the pelvic region, before we had access to intra- vascular ultrasound, it was very difficult and almost impossible to effectively treat clots in the pelvic region at all,” Dr. Daniel continued. “This technology allows us to not only treat these clots, but reverse symptoms and create a long-term solu- tion for patients. For patients with severe DVT, the EKOS technology helps dissolve the clots that can cause pain when walk- ing and foot ulcers in diabetics, and this also helps patients avoid amputation.” Saving lives “Archbold is the only facility in the area offering the EKOS clot-busting proce- dures,” said Dr. Daniel. “We’ve had a high success rate over the past year since we implemented the new technology. We are saving lives with this technology and offering treatment for patients who otherwise wouldn’t have had a long- term treatment option for blood clots.” Endovascular System (EKOS), a catheter-directed technology that simul- taneously delivers clot-busting medi- cation and high-frequency, low-energy ultrasound to dissolve dangerous blood clots before they can cause serious harm or death. The pressure of the ultrasound waves effectively drives the medication