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“ These kinds of outcomes have a ripple effect. Christina went from being very sick to getting well and bringing the next generation into the world.”
Sudhakar Satti, M.D.
“The Neurointerventional Surgery team had to take her back
to the interventional suite multiple times to treat these spasms despite maximal medical therapy to prevent her from suffering a stroke,” Dr. Satti said.
Despite the initial coiling procedure, her aneurysm recurred
in one week. After a multidisciplinary review of her case, it was determined that Christina would be best served with a novel flexible, flow-diverting intracranial stent. This stent diverts
flow from the aneurysm, and allows the aneurysm to clot and ultimately shrink while allowing the patient’s own vessel to heal itself.
Once the healing is complete, the aneurysm is permanently cured without need for additional surgery or follow-up.
“Cases like these highlight the importance of a team-driven approach to complex cerebrovascular patients that leverages the combined expertise of neuroscience specialties, including neurosurgery, neurocritical care, stroke neurology and neurointerventional surgery,” he said.
Christina’s condition was stable, but she was still extremely
ill and spent several weeks in the Neurocritical Care Unit. Eventually, she was well enough to go to a rehabilitation center. But her struggle continued.
“I had to learn to walk all over again,” she said. “I thank God and the people who took care of me for getting me through.”
Back home in Maryland, Christina continued to reclaim her life. She and her husband wanted to have a baby, but her obstetrician was concerned that her medical history would put her at risk.
Dr. Satti performed a follow-up transradial cerebral angiogram that confirmed complete aneurysm healing. She was cleared from any physical restrictions, including pregnancy.
“The aneurysm was completely gone. The native vessel is healed, and the aneurysm should never recur,” Dr. Satti said.
In 2016, two years later, Christina and Leonard welcomed Apollo, a healthy boy, into the world. Dr. Satti consulted with her obstetrician and visited mom and baby in the hospital.
“These kinds of outcomes have a ripple effect,” he said. “Christina went from being very sick to getting well and bringing the next generation into the world.”
For her care team at Christiana Care, Christina’s recovery and her ability to start a family is a joyful reminder of the value and importance of the work they do every day.
“This is a great example of a team-based approach across specialties, driven by the service line model and the positive impact we can have on patient care when we serve together
to deliver on the Christiana Care Way,” said Valerie Dechant, M.D., clinical leader of Neurosciences and medical director of Neurocritical Care and Acute Neurologic Services. ●
NEUROSCIENCES
Photo (left): Barbara J. Albani, M.D., medical director of the Department of Neurointerventional Surgery, and Gregg H. Zoarski, M.D., perform a neurointerventional procedure at Christiana Care. As one of the busiest stroke centers in the country, Christiana Care is the only hospital in Delaware offering intra-arterial treatment for acute stroke. Christiana Care’s stroke team has earned top honors from the American Stroke Association. Photo (right): Christiana Care’s stroke team has earned top honors from the American Stroke Association.
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