Penn Highlands Mon Valley Cardiac Cath Lab Celebrates 100th Thrombectomy Procedure

The cardiac catheterization lab at Penn Highlands Mon Valley reached a major milestone, successfully performing its 100th thrombectomy procedure.

This achievement highlights the hospital’s rapidly growing capabilities in advanced interventional cardiac and vascular care.

A thrombectomy is a minimally invasive, life-saving procedure used to rapidly remove blood clots from arteries or veins, instantly restoring blood flow to vital organs. It involves threading a small, flexible catheter through a small puncture, usually in the groin or wrist. Guided by X-ray imaging, medical professionals use specialized tools to either vacuum out the clot or use a tiny wire-mesh device to trap and pull the clot out. In more serious cases, surgery may be required to remove the clot.

While cath labs are traditionally known for treating heart attacks, advanced thrombectomy technology now allows the medical team to tackle other critical emergencies, such as pulmonary embolisms (clots in the lungs), clots in extremities and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

“Reaching our 100th case isn’t just about a number, it represents 100 lives changed," said Chayakrit Krittanawong, MD, FACC, FSCAI, interventional cardiologist at Penn Highlands Mon Valley. “The technology we use now allows us to clear blockages safely and efficiently, often resulting in less pain and quicker recovery times.”

Community focused

The thrombectomy program has grown rapidly at Penn Highlands Mon Valley since its inception three years ago to meet the increasing local demand for advanced vascular care. The program’s success ensures that local residents do not need to be transferred to metro hospitals for procedures, cutting down critical transit time during emergencies.

“Before, this kind of procedure was done at major university centers, but thanks to innovations in cardiovascular procedures in recent years, we’re able to do this on site with very low risk,” said Adil Waheed, DO, FSCAI, a five board-certified and fellowed interventional cardiologist at Penn Highlands Mon Valley.

Looking forward

This milestone reflects the dedication of Penn Highlands Mon Valley’s multidisciplinary team — from cardiologists and anesthesiologists to nurses and technicians. Driven by continuous advancements in catheter technology, the cardiac catheterization lab is well-positioned for its next hundred milestones, one saved life at a time.

To learn more about heart care at Penn Highlands Healthcare, visit www.phhealthcare.org/heartcare.