Intermountain Press Release

Provo, Utah—Utah Valley Regional Medical Center is now among the cutting-edge institutions in the country offering an advanced treatment for patients suffering from deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

DVT is a common but serious medical condition that occurs in approximately 2 million Americans each year. DVT occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in large veins, usually in the lower limbs, leading to either partially or completely blocked circulation. The condition may result in serious health complications such as chronic leg pain and swelling, pulmonary embolism or even death if not diagnosed and treated effectively.

The new treatment being offered at Utah Valley Regional uses devices such as the FDA-cleared Trellis Peripheral Infusion System. This system allows specialists to provide rapid, effective, minimally invasive and safe treatment for many patients suffering from acute DVT – patients like Erin Black.

In April, Erin was a newly-married student attending Snow College in Ephraim. One Thursday evening, she noticed a "weird pain" developing in the top of her leg, so she took some Tylenol and went to bed with a hearting pad, hoping the pain would be gone by morning. However, it wasn't.

"Gradually throughout Friday, it started to get worse. It was really tight, almost like a Charlie horse or a fat rubber band was around my thigh. I would feel good when I was sitting in class, but by time I walked to another class, it hurt really bad," she recalled.

Being busy with school and church obligations and knowing most clinics would be closed for the weekend, Erin and her husband decided to wait until the next week to see a doctor. However, on Sunday when her leg started to swell and her foot began to tingle and turn blue, they headed to the emergency room in Mt. Pleasant.

An ultrasound identified a large blood clot in her leg and physicians arranged for her to be treated the next day at Utah Valley Regional. Using the Trellis thrombus extraction system, interventional radiologist Carl Black, MD, removed the blood clot causing the 20-year-old's problems.

"We were really, really grateful for this procedure," said Erin, who is now symptom free.