The cardiovascular team at Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital successfully treated it’s first patient, suffering with a pulmonary embolism, using a new mechanical aspiration thrombectomy system, a minimally invasive technology to remove blood clots from the lungs.
A pulmonary embolism happens when a blood clot, often one that forms in the legs, breaks loose and travels to the lungs. There, it blocks blood flow in the pulmonary arteries, the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. When the blockage is large, the right side of the heart must work much harder to push blood past it, and that strain can quickly become dangerous.
The patient arrived Sept. 1, 2026, at the hospital after fainting. Imaging showed clots in both lungs, starting in the main pulmonary arteries and extending into smaller branches. Additional tests found signs of significant strain on the right side of her heart. Together, these findings placed her in the intermediate-high risk category: her condition was not yet critical, but she faced a real chance of worsening quickly without prompt treatment.
For patients at this level of risk, blood-thinning medication alone may not work quickly enough. Mechanical thrombectomy allows the physician to physically remove the clot, relieving the strain on the heart right away. During mechanical aspiration thrombectomy, the physician makes a small puncture in a vein, usually in the leg. A thin, flexible tube called a catheter is then guided through the bloodstream to the clot in the lungs, where the device uses suction to pull the clot out and restore blood flow. No open surgery is needed.
Naddi B. Marah, MD, an interventional cardiologist at Memorial Hermann Cypress, performed the procedure alongside the hospital’s cardiovascular and Cath Lab teams. He also credited the Emergency Department teams, who quickly recognized the seriousness of the patient’s condition and immediately activated the hospital’s Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT). The PERT is a coordinated group of specialists who work together to evaluate and treat PE patients as quickly as possible.
“This milestone advances cardiovascular care at Memorial Hermann Cypress, expanding treatment options for patients with life-threatening pulmonary embolism and bringing advanced heart and vascular care closer to home,” said Dr. Marah. “As an interventional cardiologist serving this community, I’m proud of the expertise and collaboration of our Emergency Department, Cath Lab, and cardiovascular teams and our shared commitment to meeting the needs of our growing community.”
The procedure removed a substantial amount of clot and restored blood flow to the lungs. The patient’s breathing improved, she needed less oxygen, and the pressure on her heart dropped. She was soon able to walk more comfortably. Thirty days later, she returned to her normal activities with no lasting effects from the pulmonary embolism.
This new technology gives the Memorial Hermann Cypress care team another option to tailor treatment to each patient’s needs and provide advanced heart and vascular care closer to home.
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