(LARGO, FL – August 2018) – Largo Medical Center is the first hospital in Pinellas County helping rid patients of blood clots in arteries or veins in or near their heart through a new minimally-invasive procedure using the Indigo® System CAT RX Aspiration Catheter. This device allows physicians to navigate a powerful “vacuum-like” catheter that evacuates life-threatening blood clots, reducing the need for the use of clot-busting drugs, essentially fighting off a heart attack.
“Blood clots in the coronary arteries have had limited treatment options until now,” said Merrill Krolick, DO, Interventional Cardiologist, Largo Medical Center. “In my experience with this new technology here at Largo Medical Center, we now have the ability to remove these difficult-to-access, life-threatening clots quickly and efficiently, potentially reducing the risk of heart damage or a heart attack.” With this system, Dr. Krolick said he can better visualize an underlying heart blockage.
“At Largo Medical Center we are proud to provide procedures like this one which lowers the risk of surgical complications and improves patient outcomes,” said Anthony Degina, CEO, Largo Medical Center.
When blood clots develop in a peripheral artery or vein, they can block blood flow to the heart, lungs, and other parts of the body, which can cause limb loss, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, heart attack, or death. A heart attack can occur when a clot blocks delivery of oxygen-rich blood through one or more of the coronary arteries, thereby damaging heart muscle. Signs and symptoms of a heart attack can vary between men and women. They may include:
• Chest pain
• Anxiety
• Nausea or “flu-like” symptoms
• Perspiring (sweating)
• Pain under the arm
• Persistent cough
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Jaw or neck pain
• Irregular/rapid heartbeat
• Numbness in arms or hands
About 720,000 people in the United States suffer heart attacks every year. At Largo Medical Center, Interventional Cardiologits, Merrill Krolick, DO, Jesse Klein, DO and Amit Srivastava, MD perform this minimally-invasive life-saving procedure.
For an interview, please contact Tammy Robiconti, Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Largo Medical Center at 727-348-1896 or Tammy.Robiconti@HCAHealthcare.com.
About Largo Medical Center
Largo Medical Center is a 425-bed statutory teaching hospital serving Pinellas County from three campuses. The hospital provides Atrial Fibrillation Care at the AFib & Heart Rhythm Centers, Bariatric (Surgical Weight Loss) Services at the Florida Bariatric Centers, Behavioral Healthcare, Breast Healthcare at the Florida Breast Institute, Cardiovascular Services, Clinical Research, Emergency Care at 3 campuses, the H2U Health and Wellness program, Hepatobiliary Care at The Hepatobiliary Center, Imaging and Diagnostic Services, Kidney & Liver Transplants at the Transplant Institute of Florida, Limb Saving at the Florida Limb Saving Institute, Orthopedic/Total Joint Care at the Florida Orthopedic Pavilion, Inpatient, Outpatient and Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, Palliative Care, Robotic Surgery, Spine and Neurologic Care at the Florida Spine & Neuro Center, and Wound Care with Hyperbaric Medicine. Largo Medical Center has AOA and ACGME Accredited Graduate Medical Education programs. The hospital is the West Coast Academic Center for NOVA Southeastern University and is affiliated with the USF Morsani College of Medicine. Largo Medical Center is a Certified Advanced Heart Failure Center and an Advanced Primary Stroke Center. We have an accredited AFib Center, Bariatric (Surgical Weight Loss) Program, Breast Center, Cancer Care program, Chest Pain with PCI and Inpatient Rehabilitation program. Learn more at LargoMedical.com. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.