The staff of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s Mobile Stroke Unit and the physicians at Methodist University Hospital’s Comprehensive Stroke Center all assisted in saving Gerald Sandlin’s life after an emergency landing at Memphis International Airport. Among the physicians that removed the blood clot causing the stroke was Semmes Murphey physician, Dr. Adam Arthur.
"It's one of the worst things that can happen to a human being," said Dr. Arthur. Basilar artery thrombosis, as strokes such as Sandlin's are known, can cause death, or a condition called "Locked-in syndrome," in which a patient is aware and can still think, but can't speak or move. "As far as I'm concerned, it's a fate worse than death," Arthur said.
The UT mobile Stroke Unit was waiting on the tarmac at the time of the emergency landing. Within 1 minute of being brought into the unit, Sandlin had a CT Scan and was administered a clot-busting drug. From there, the patient was rushed to Methodist University, where Dr. Arthur removed the clot by inserting a catheter.
Semmes Murphey Clinic is so thankful that Gerald Sandlin is alive and well. We are grateful to the UT mobile stroke unit and the staff at Methodist University Hospital who helped save this man's life.
Read more at the Commercial Appeal here.
