Staff Reports | Community Updates
When 74-year-old Jim Cerase began experiencing severe shortness of breath in late September, he and his wife, Barbara Cerase, sought emergency medical care. What followed highlights the role coordinated care can play in treating a medical emergency.
The Sun City West couple first went to Abrazo Peoria Emergency Center, where Dr. Brice Brookshire, a board-certified emergency medicine physician, diagnosed Jim Cerase with bilateral pulmonary emboli, or blood clots blocking arteries in both lungs.
The condition required advanced treatment and prompted a transfer to Abrazo Arrowhead Campus, which has a dedicated Pulmonary Embolism Response Team, according to a press release.
The Pulmonary Embolism Response Team includes emergency medicine physicians, interventional cardiologists, critical care specialists and other clinicians who evaluate and treat patients with complex pulmonary embolisms.
“When we identified the blood clots in Jim’s lungs, our Peoria team activated the Pulmonary Embolism Response Team and coordinated his transfer to Abrazo Arrowhead for advanced treatment. I am proud of how everyone came together for him. Hearing that he is back home, breathing comfortably and walking his dog is amazing,” Dr. Brice Brookshire, board-certified emergency medicine physician at Abrazo Peoria Emergency Center, said.
“Normally you are waiting for hours in an emergency room,” Jim Cerase said. “Not at Abrazo Peoria Emergency Center. It was boom, boom, boom — they knew I was in trouble and immediately sent me to Abrazo Arrowhead where they were already waiting for me and ready to do what it took to save my life.”
After arriving at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus, additional testing revealed strain on the right side of Jim Cerase’s heart and a blood clot in his left leg. He was treated by Dr. Rahul Malhotra, an invasive-interventional cardiologist, who performed a minimally invasive thrombectomy procedure to remove the clots from his pulmonary arteries.
“Jim was facing a very serious medical emergency,” Dr. Rahul Malhotra, invasive-interventional cardiologist at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus, said. “Large blood clots were blocking blood flow through his lungs and placing significant stress on his heart. Thanks to the rapid diagnosis at Abrazo Peoria Emergency Center and the seamless transfer to Arrowhead, we were able to quickly perform a minimally invasive procedure to remove the clots. It is gratifying to see a patient go from struggling to breathe to getting back to enjoying everyday life with his family.”
Today, Mr. Cerase says he has returned to many of his normal activities.
“I have no problem breathing and my blood pressure is perfect. I take the dog for a walk every morning. We have fun and no more shortness of breath either. I feel like a different person.”
Barbara Cerase said the care team kept her informed throughout her husband’s treatment.
“At both Abrazo facilities, Jim was admitted and cared for by several doctors and nurses,” Mrs. Cerase said. “The care he got was incredibly thorough and the staff kept me informed the whole time which helped me stay calm during a very scary situation.”
Dr. Brookshire said the coordinated response between the emergency center and hospital helped ensure timely access to advanced care.
The experience also illustrates the role that nearby emergency facilities and specialty care services can play in treating serious medical conditions within the same health system.
“Abrazo’s doctors and nurses saved my life when it was critical,” Mr. Cerase said. “My wife and I are forever grateful and in their debt.”
