When Adam Story collapsed in his downtown Spartanburg apartment, he had no idea that he nearly died from a pulmonary embolism.

“I was at home on my couch when I stood up and I don’t know if I was having a heart attack or what, but I was clammy, pale and it was hard to breathe. I debated, but I ultimately called an ambulance.”

Story was rushed to the hospital, where doctors discovered blood clots in his lungs and other parts of his body.

Doctors performed a procedure called a thrombectomy to remove blood clots, saving Story’s life and helping him through a swift recovery.

Spartanburg Regional has added this innovative tool as a new method of treating pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. Traditionally, most blood clots are treated by giving the patient blood thinners and sometimes thrombolytics, which are medications used to break down clots.

Using an aspiration catheter called the Inari FlowTriever device, doctors can now remove the blood clots in the lungs. Some patients have shown immediate symptom relief and faster recovery.

Rather than keeping patients hospitalized longer and using an IV to administer anticoagulants and blood thinners, doctors insert a catheter into a vein in the groin and aspirate blood clots that have formed in arteries going into the lungs.

“Patients are usually off oxygen by the end of the procedure, potentially going home in 24 to 48 hours,” said Dr. Sebastiano Virgadamo, who saw Story after he had come in by ambulance. “We believe as more data and studies are published, that this will be the new standard of care.”

Dr. Virgadamo said physicians are excited about the new trend in thrombectomies at Spartanburg Regional because the method can reduce the potential health risk to patients such as significant bleeding with traditional treatment especially with thrombolytics. 

Story now lives a healthy, normal life free of blood clots and can stay active without feeling out of breath like before. He said he is thankful for the way the doctors handled his case and helped him understand the benefits of the new innovations. 

“The care has been top notch,” Story said.