“Positivity is a huge factor in health.”
visit her care team
At a recent patient meeting, the center’s Linda Potthoff speaks with Julie Cox, ECMO manager, and Andres Real, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon on the Texas Health Dallas medical staff.
DALLAS, Texas, Oct. 2, 2024 (Globe Newswire) — Linda Potthoff woke up having severe difficulty breathing. She told her husband to seek medical help just to be safe. That’s her last memory before waking up in the hospital room. Thanks to the emergency treatment he received at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, Potthoff survived a pulmonary embolism, the third leading cause of cardiovascular death in the United States.
“I remember the morning of June 4th very well,” she said. “I was lying in bed thinking that this would just pass. Well, if my husband hadn’t called 911, he would have made it, and I would have made it, too.”
How a life-changing day unfolded
The two pulmonary arteries perform important functions in the body, transporting blood between the heart and lungs, but when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the lungs, a pulmonary embolism occurs. In addition to shortness of breath, symptoms can range from coughing and chest pain to leg swelling. In some cases, it can be fatal, said Dr. Richard Kim, a pulmonologist on the Texas Department of State Health Services Dallas medical staff. He also serves as the co-medical director of the ECMO program.
Mr. Potthau’s 18-day treatment at Texas Health Dallas involved emergency heart surgery and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy, a heart-lung machine that operates outside a patient’s body and pumps blood. This included extensive treatment.
Paramedics drove Potthauf to Texas Health Dallas, less than 10 miles from her home, where her care team, including Dr. Heather Owen, an emergency physician on the Texas Health Dallas medical staff, awaited her arrival.
For more than 40 minutes, they performed emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation to restore Potokhov’s heartbeat and save her life. Her patient journey was not yet over.
After performing extensive tests, including an echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to produce images of the heart and arteries, and a CT scan, which produces images that detect disease or injury, the treatment team gave Mr. Potokhov a test that obstructs blood flow. I found out I had a blood clot. This is known as a saddle pulmonary embolism, which occurs in both lungs.
Saddle pulmonary embolism is considered a rare, life-threatening disease, accounting for less than 6% of all acute cases, but can lead to sudden death if untreated.
“Mrs. Potthoff was not receiving significant blood flow and his heart and lungs had stopped functioning,” Kim said. “The care team determined that ECMO was the best approach to repair her organs and prevent further damage.”
Receive specialized emergency medical care
Dr. Andres Leal, a cardiothoracic surgeon with the Texas Health Physicians Group* at Texas Health Dallas Medical Institutions, said Ms. Potthoff received ECMO therapy for eight days to give her lungs and heart time to recover. He said he gave his care team the time they needed to clear the blockage. staff. Leal, co-medical director of the ECMO program, said a small incision was made in the femoral artery to remove the blood clot, a procedure known as transvenous pulmonary embolectomy.
story continues
“Her success story highlights the importance of ECMO programs and the importance of responding quickly to critically ill patients in distress,” Leal said.
Emergency physician Sarah Way, MD, JD, agrees. She also serves as Chief Quality and Medical Officer for the Dallas Texas Health Department.
“Our ECMO program helps Texas Health Dallas master advanced medical therapies and help patients overcome life-threatening illnesses and return to their lives, families, and communities. A shining example of how we are committed to delivering.”
return to a happy life
A healthy lifestyle and constant exercise also played an important role in Potukhov’s survival story.
Now in her late 70s, she remains active, taking daily walks, spending time with her grandchildren, and teaching kindergarten students.
“Positivity is a huge component of health,” Potthoff says. “I had to overcome a life-threatening situation, and the people around me at Texas Health Dallas were incredibly well-trained and responded to my needs calmly and quickly. I am grateful for that.”
Click here to learn more about Texas Health Dallas’ services.
*Physicians employed by Texas Health Physians Group practice independently and are not employees or agents of Texas Health Resources hospitals.
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For additional images, please contact Chandra Caradine.
About Texas Medical Resources:
Texas Health Resources is a faith-based, nonprofit health system that cares for more patients in North Texas than any other health care provider. Consisting of 16 counties and a population of more than 7 million people, the system provides high-quality, We are committed to providing coordinated care. Health Harris Methodist and Texas Health Huguely. Texas Health access points and services provide a complete continuum of care for every stage of life, from acute hospitals and trauma centers to outpatient facilities and home health and preventive services. The system has more than 4,100 licensed hospital beds, 6,400 physicians with active staff privileges, and approximately 29,000 employees. For more information about Texas Health, call 1-877-THR-WELL or visit www.TexasHealth.org.
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Contact: Chandra L. Caradine Texas Health Resources 682.236.6390 ChandraCaradine@TexasHealth.org
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