Incredible New Mobile Lung Bypass Device Saves Robertson County Woman
ROBERTSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – Yes, you read that correctly: mobile technology is now available that allows emergency medical teams to completely bypass your lungs (in transit) if a blood clot blocks oxygen to your lungs.
In a remarkable medical intervention, doctors essentially bypassed a young Robertson County woman’s lungs to save her life after she suffered a sudden cardiac arrest caused by a massive blood clot. The 22-year-old was placed on ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation), a cutting-edge therapy that temporarily took over the function of her heart and lungs, allowing doctors to remove the life-threatening clot blocking blood flow from her heart to her lungs. The emergency unfolded in the early hours of January 19th, when EMS crews braved icy roads to rush her to TriStar NorthCrest Medical Center in Springfield. There, a specialized ECMO response team from Centennial Medical Center arrived in time to perform the life-saving procedure—one that just years ago would have been impossible outside of the largest hospitals.
In the early morning hours of January 19th, just after midnight and with snow and ice on the roads, EMS received a 911 call for a young woman experiencing severe shortness of breath that began unexpectedly. The 22-year-old woman was transported to TriStar NorthCrest Medical Center. During transport, her condition worsened, and just as paramedics arrived at the emergency room at TriStar NorthCrest, the young woman stopped breathing altogether and went into cardiac arrest. Her heart had stopped, but the team at TriStar NorthCrest Emergency Department acted quickly to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
According to Robertson County EMS Director Brent Dyer, the young woman thankfully regained a pulse but remained unconscious and wasn’t breathing on her own. She was intubated, and a multitude of medications were administered through IV lines in a short time. Her condition remained very critical. The team at TriStar NorthCrest ER, led by well-respected ER Physician Dr. Keith, worked vigorously to keep her alive. Dr. Keith determined that she was a candidate for some of the latest advancements in critical care medicine— a therapy known as “ECMO” (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation).
Dr. Keith called upon the new specialized ECMO Response Team from Centennial Medical Center. This recently formed team of specially trained doctors and nurses arrived quickly in their new ECMO Response Unit, an SUV (pictured) equipped to haul specialized equipment and ready for travel in any conditions. The 4×4 SUV proved invaluable, as there was snow and ice on the roads that morning.
When ECMO first became available across the U.S., it was only found in a few of the largest and busiest hospitals. The first years of ECMO therapy required immediate transport of very sick patients in an attempt to reach the therapy in time, often resulting in patients deteriorating before receiving this life-saving intervention. Nowadays, ECMO is becoming more and more available in larger hospital systems. Even better, in cases like this one from Robertson County, ECMO therapy can now be brought to the patient, allowing for stabilization before transfer for continued care.
ECMO functions as an artificial set of lungs, perfusing central blood circulation in the body. In the case of the 22-year-old young woman from our community, it created a temporary bypass, allowing doctors to address the cause of her cardiac arrest by providing artificial oxygenation and perfusion of blood. ECMO kept her alive while doctors removed a major blood clot in an artery connecting the heart to the oxygen supply from the lungs. This condition, known as a pulmonary embolism, or “blood clot in the circulation from the lungs,” is almost always fatal when it presents suddenly outside of a hospital setting.
Pulmonary embolism often results from a “DVT” (Deep Vein Thrombosis), a blood clot usually formed in the legs. DVTs are more common in individuals with sedentary jobs or lifestyles, those who have had a lower extremity immobilized in a cast, and people with blood clotting disorders. Smokers and individuals taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills) are also at higher risk. It is recommended that people with these risk factors stand, stretch, or walk around at least once every hour, especially those who work desk jobs or drive for a living. Additionally, those at increased risk should be particularly cautious when traveling long distances by car or plane.
Normally, patients in such critical condition are flown via helicopter, but due to weather conditions, that was not possible. The teams from TriStar NorthCrest Medical Center, Centennial Medical Center’s ECMO response team, and Robertson County EMS worked together to stabilize the patient and transport her via ground ambulance to Centennial.
Robertson County EMS Director Brent Dyer told Smokey Barn News that this patient was one of the first to receive care from the mobile ECMO response team, and she was the first patient to be treated using the brand-new Zoll Z-vent transport ventilators recently purchased by Robertson County. These ventilators help Robertson County’s Critical Care Paramedics facilitate the transfer of severely ill patients to Nashville facilities when needed. Additionally, one of the County’s new cardiac monitor/defibrillators played a critical role in her care. The team safely transported her to Centennial in one of Robertson County’s new F450 4×4 ambulances. While no one ever wants to need such equipment, it should give comfort to Robertson County residents knowing that their EMS teams are well-equipped with the support of local elected officials. Across the region, Robertson County EMS has one of the best reputations for advanced clinical protocols and emergency medical care, thanks to Dr. Love Anani, the EMS Medical Director who also serves as the lead ER physician at TriStar NorthCrest Medical Center.
We work together seamlessly to bring the best care to Robertson County. Some members of the ECMO response team even live in Robertson County, allowing them to arrive quickly when called that morning. The EMS crew that helped transport the young woman to Centennial made a special request to the supervisor on duty to allow them to stay with the team and continue their mission, even though it was past shift change and relief crews were available. In this critical situation, everything aligned— the right people, the right place, the right training, the right equipment, and most importantly, the right passion for the work they do.
“I am proud that our teams were all eager to go the extra mile and give all they had of themselves to save this young lady’s life. To us, this is a big deal. Patients like this young woman usually don’t survive, but this case is one of the first in our region where a post-cardiac arrest patient has survived and remained neurologically intact! As of our last report on Tuesday of this week, she was off ECMO, extubated (no longer on a ventilator), breathing on her own, awake, and doing well! She truly is a miracle, and we are proud she will be able to come home to Robertson County. Our teams did great work, and we are thankful for those who prayed and put some faith medicine behind this positive outcome.”