Two new devices— Inari Medical’s FlowTriever for Pulmonary Embolism (PE) and ClotTriever System for Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) — now give Methodist Hospitals’ cardiologists a minimally invasive way to treat these life-threatening conditions, greatly reducing the risk of bleeding and shortening the patient’s hospital stay. Methodist is the first Northwest Indiana hospital to use FlowTriever to remove a pulmonary embolism.
FlowTriever, the first FDA-approved mechanical thrombectomy device purposely designed to treat PE and ClotTriever, a similar device for treating DVT, represent an entirely new approach to the treatment of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. With these devices, a catheter is inserted through a vein and threaded to the site of the clot. Suction is used to pull the clot out of the vessel and the body.
Until now, the first line of treatment for blood clots has been the use of blood thinners, like heparin or warfarin. While blood thinners will keep a clot from getting larger and work well for smaller clots, they may not completely dissolve larger clots. For massive DVTs and PEs, medications called thrombolytics, or “clot busters,” are often administered. However, these “clot busters” are used cautiously as they can cause serious and even fatal bleeding complications.
FlowTriever and ClotTriever enable the physician to intervene quickly while eliminating the risks and complications associated with thrombolytic agents. “We are excited to be able to bring these new and potentially life-saving treatments to our patients. By performing this procedure through a catheter, we help our patients avoid open-chest surgery, drugs that increase bleeding risk and intensive care unit stays” said Mihas Kodenchery M.D., a Methodist Physician Group cardiologist.
About Methodist Hospitals
Methodist Hospitals is a community-based, not-for-profit health system with two full-service acute care facilities in Gary and Merrillville, Indiana, that has been leading the way to better health for residents of Northwest Indiana for almost 100 years. Methodist Hospitals offers a number of award – winning programs, including its Neuroscience, Oncology, Heart and Vascular Institutes and Breast Care Center. Its range of services also includes Women & Children’s Services, Bariatric Surgery Services, Emergency & Trauma Services, Immediate Care Centers, an Orthopedic & Spine Care Center, Sports Medicine, comprehensive Rehabilitation Services, Behavioral Health and Home Health Services. It has earned Magnet® designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Hospital Accreditation
About Inari Medical, Inc.
Inari Medical, Inc. is a commercial-stage medical device company focused on developing products to treat and transform the lives of patients suffering from venous diseases. Inari has developed two minimally-invasive, novel catheter-based mechanical thrombectomy devices that are designed to remove large clots from large vessels and eliminate the need for thrombolytic drugs. The company purpose-built its products for the specific characteristics of the venous system and the treatment of the two distinct manifestations of venous thromboembolism, or VTE: deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The ClotTriever system is 510(k)-cleared by the FDA for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis. The FlowTriever system is 510(k)-cleared by the FDA for the treatment of pulmonary embolism.
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Media Contact
Linda Hadley
Director, Marketing and Corporate Communications
219-886-4779
lhadley@methodisthospitals.org
