“I couldn’t imagine waiting months for medications to relieve my symptoms,” said Jerry. “Initially, doctors predicted I would be on bed rest for six months. But, six months after doctors used mechanical thrombectomy to remove my clot, I set a personal record in the Long Island Half Marathon.”
Jerry Pucci, DVT Patient
My Experience with DVT - Jerry Pucci
When 42-year-old portfolio manager Jerry Pucci began training for the New York City Marathon, he was the picture of health – in great shape and a marathon veteran. But just days before the race, he began experiencing muscle pain and flu-like symptoms. He attributed the symptoms to his intense training schedule.
On race day, Jerry landed in the medical tent, dropping out after only a few miles – uncharacteristic for the driven competitor. He made an appointment to see his physician the next day, who told him he probably just pulled a muscle. But when Jerry’s leg began to swell, emergency room doctors realized he was experiencing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – a potentially deadly blood clot in his leg.
Historically, treatment for DVT has been limited largely to the use of anti-coagulant drugs. However, drugs alone would have taken as long as six to eight months, might not have resolved the blood clot and could have caused bleeding complications.
Not satisfied with the drug-only option, Jerry learned about a new, non-surgical treatment offered at nearby Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City that removes clots by vacuuming them from the vein. He immediately contacted the hospital to learn more about mechanical thrombectomy with water jet technology.
Using mechanical thrombectomy in conjunction with limited drug therapy, doctors removed the clot in a matter of hours. Within six months – the time it would have taken for standard medication treatment alone to treat the clot – Jerry was back running.