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A pair of surgeons at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital recently employed a new, minimally invasive procedure to treat pulmonary embolisms (blood clot in the lungs). The Hospital is now one of only a handful of institutions in the tri-state area to offer this new treatment.

Marcus D’ayala, M.D., chief vascular surgeon at NYP Brooklyn Methodist, and Iosif Gulkarov, M.D., attending cardiothoracic surgeon performed the new procedure— an ultrasound accelerated thrombolysis (USAT) on a patient at the Hospital who had a blood clot that was moving through the bloodstream from the leg to the lungs.

Compared to traditional treatments for pulmonary embolism — including surgery, medications like anticoagulants (blood thinners) or systemic thrombolysis — the USAT procedure carries a much lower risk of internal bleeding.

The procedure uses a probe that releases ultrasound waves to loosen and break down blood clots. A catheter is then inserted—via the femoral vein—that injects tPA, which further dissolves the clot particles. “It’s like taking a big iceberg, breaking it into little pieces and then coating it with medication that’s going to make it melt,” Dr. Gulkarov said.

“This story demonstrates how collaborative efforts between surgical services, state-of-the-art equipment and advanced knowledge of disease, can help our patients in life threatening situations,” said Michael Zenilman, M.D., chair of the Department of Surgery. “With wonderful surgical leaders such as Drs. D'ayala and Gulkarov, NYP Brooklyn Methodist Hospital is bringing new treatment options to our patients.”

Iosif Gulkarov, M.D., attending cardiothoracic surgeon, and Marcus D'ayala, M.D., chief of vascular surgery, performed the recent USAT procedure at NYP Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.

NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital

Founded in 1881, NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital is a voluntary, acute-care teaching facility located in Brooklyn's Park Slope. It houses 591 licensed inpatient beds and provides services to some 42,000 inpatients each year. In addition, approximately 500,000 outpatient visits and services are logged annually. NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital offers specialized care in the following areas: advanced and minimally invasive surgery, advanced otolaryngology, asthma and lung disease, cancer care, cardiology and cardiac surgery, diabetes and other endocrine disorders, digestive and liver disorders, healthy aging, neurosciences, orthopedic medicine and surgery, vascular medicine and surgery and women's health. NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital is affiliated with Weill Cornell Medicine and is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Regional Hospital Network.

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