Radiology Imaging Associates Doctors First to Use New Stroke Procedure

Ben Atchie, DO, and Don Frei, MD, board certified neuroradiologists with Radiology Imaging Associates, PC successfully performed a mechanical thrombectomy, a stroke procedure to remove blood clots in brain vessels, using the newest update to the Penumbra System. The system creates vacuum to allow clots to be gently aspirated out of intracranial vessels. The groundbreaking procedure was performed at HCA/HealthONE’s Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, CO. Swedish Medical Center is the first hospital in the world to use the newest edition of this system on a patient suffering from an acute ischemic stroke.

“This is a new more powerful aspiration source providing suction to remove deep clots,” said Dr. Ben Atchie, primary physician on the case. “When the patient arrived to us, tPA had been administered but the vessel was still occluded. We were able to recanalize the blood vessel in under 9 minutes with the entire procedure lasting less than 17 minutes. This is not only a credit to the technique but also the team, and everyone involved.”

Physicians are hopeful the newest update to the Penumbra System will only increase the ability for Swedish to perform lifesaving stroke procedures in record time. “I have not seen better stroke care in any other place that I’ve worked or visited,” said Dr. Atchie, “from the ER door all the way to the patients getting discharged, it is a well-oiled machine. Everyone knows what to do and that time is of the essence. It is an amazing place to work.”

RIA is proud to be a part of lifesaving medical breakthroughs like this one, and to partner with other leaders in healthcare like Swedish Medical Center.