AHN Wexford Hospital Reaches Major Milestone for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Complex Venous Blood Clots

The hospital is the sole provider of mechanical thrombectomy for venous blood clots in the North Hills region

PITTSBURGH - Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Wexford Hospital is celebrating a major milestone in its interventional radiology program, completing nearly 500 mechanical thrombectomy procedures for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE), a serious condition involving blood clots in the veins.

As the sole facility in the North Hills region providing this advanced level of clot care, this milestone reflects the continued growth of AHN's comprehensive VTE program, launched at Wexford Hospital in 2021.

The primary types of VTE are deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). DVT blood clots, most commonly forming in the legs or pelvis, can lead to long-term pain, swelling, and reduced mobility if untreated. If a portion of the clot dislodges and travels to the lungs, it can cause a PE, a potentially life-threatening medical emergency. VTE is responsible for an estimated 60,000-100,000 American deaths annually.

The AHN VTE program offers mechanical thrombectomy, an advanced, minimally-invasive treatment utilizing the Inari Medical ClotTriever system. Physicians use the device to efficiently capture and remove blood clots from the vein, restoring blood flow and reducing the risk of long-term complications and often eliminating the need for long-term anticoagulation medications.

"Patients can experience significant discomfort from blood clots in their lower extremities and in some cases, symptoms may persist for weeks or longer if not fully addressed," said Andrew Klobuka, MD, director of interventional radiology, AHN. "By removing the clot in a minimally invasive way, we can often provide faster symptom relief and improve long-term outcomes."

Since its inception at AHN Allegheny General Hospital, the health system has expanded its advanced thrombectomy services across its footprint to include AHN West Penn, AHN Forbes, AHN Jefferson and AHN Grove City hospitals, in addition to Wexford Hospital.

AHN actively participates in registries and clinical trials which evaluate advanced clot removal. The CLOUT registry tracks real-world outcomes to assess safety and effectiveness, while the DEFIANCE trial compares mechanical thrombectomy to standard therapies for DVT. Notably, AHN is the highest-enrolling site globally in the DEFIANCE trial, reflecting its leadership in advancing evidence-based care.

Through its interventional radiology program, AHN Wexford continues to expand access to minimally invasive treatment options for patients with vascular conditions, leveraging advanced technology and a multidisciplinary approach to care.

"This milestone reflects the highly advanced expertise of our interventional radiology team, and our commitment to continually expanding access to innovative, convenient care options for patients in our community," said Allan Klapper, MD, president, AHN Wexford Hospital.

To learn more or schedule a consultation with an AHN interventional radiology specialist,

call 833-VIR-RAD1 (833-847-7231).

###