We know the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” At Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital, it takes a world-class team to provide comprehensive, leading-edge care to our community. One local man is praising the Froedtert South team of specialists who quickly collaborated to save his life.
“I FELL AND WAS HELPLESS ON THE FLOOR, FIGHTING TO SURVIVE, UNTIL MY DAUGHTER FOUND ME.” -DANIEL TANSKI
Daniel Tanski, a sixty-five-year-old resident of Kenosha County, fell out of bed, breaking his right leg near the hip. “I fell and was helpless on the floor, fighting to survive until my daughter found me the following day,” Daniel said. “My phone was in the kitchen, and I could not move to reach it. The hours were terrifying and painful. I knew I just had to wait it out until my daughter, Michelle, came to check on me.”
Michelle, a Registered Nurse, said, “My dad was in critical condition when I found him. I knew we had a choice about where he should receive immediate care, and I am so grateful we chose Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital. If he had gone to a different facility in the area, he would have been transferred to Milwaukee, making it more difficult for me to meet with the doctors and visit my dad. The local team that rallied to save my dad’s life and provided compassionate management of his care is outstanding. I am impressed and appreciative of their professional excellence.”
“I MAY NEVER SEE ANOTHER CASE LIKE THIS IN MY CAREER.”
-DR. RMEILEH
“Daniel arrived at Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital emergency services after a fall that left him incapacitated on the floor for well over twelve hours,” said Dr. Amin Rmeileh, Interventional Cardiologist. “Daniel’s blood pressure and oxygen levels were dangerously low. Not only did he have a broken leg that required immediate attention, but blood clots formed around the broken bone had traveled to his heart and lungs. The blood clots were forming a dam, and blood was not flowing sufficiently to his organs. His heart was failing, and we had a brief window of opportunity to perform a life-saving procedure. Daniel was intubated in the ER and rushed to the Cardiac Catheterization Lab for immediate intervention.”
While removing the blood clots, Dr. Rmeileh made a shocking discovery. He explained, “About one in four people have a patent foramen ovale (PFO), which is a small opening between the upper heart chambers that never properly closed after birth. Unbeknownst to Daniel, he had this hole in his heart, and there was a noodle-like clot stuck in it. This was an extremely dangerous situation that could have caused a stroke or broken apart into several additional clots. For nearly two hours, I removed blood clots from both the right and left sides of his heart, as well as from his lungs. Then, I slowly and precisely removed the clot from
Daniel’s PFO in one large piece. This was an incredibly rare and risky procedure. I may never see another case like this in my career.”
Following the success of the procedure, Daniel recovered in the ICU under the care of Dr. Davuluri. Once stabilized, Daniel proceeded to have his fracture repaired by Dr. Gegenheimer. Two days later, Dr. Rmeileh closed the PFO to prevent any future possibility of clots crossing from the left to the right atrium. He also placed an IVC filter in Daniel’s leg to prevent clots from traveling to the heart and lungs. Dr. Rmeileh said, “This was a fascinating and unusual case, but we are well-equipped with the right team members and technology to handle high risk situations.”
“DUE TO THE SKILLS AND COLLABORATION OF OUR EXTRAORDINARY TEAM, DANIEL IS ON A REMARKABLE PATH TO RECOVERY.”
-DR. GEGENHEIMER
“Before I could even get involved to repair his broken leg, Daniel needed to be stabilized,” said Dr. Alan Gegenheimer, Orthopedic Surgeon. “It is impressive how smoothly and swiftly the team at Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital collaborated to efficiently coordinate all of Daniel’s specialized care. After Dr. Rmeileh’s skillful intervention, Daniel was stable enough for me to repair his fracture. With three small incisions, I was able to place a rod to stabilize his leg and allow for mobility. With his coordinated therapy and follow-up appointments, Daniel is on track to be fully weight-bearing within two months post-surgery. I love being part of this world-class team of professionals here at Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital. Due to the skills and collaboration of our extraordinary team, Daniel is on a remarkable path to recovery.”
“IT IS BECAUSE OF FROEDTERT SOUTH’S IMPRESSIVE COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE THAT OUR TEAM WAS PREPARED TO TACKLE THIS EXTREME CASE.”
-DR. DAVULURI
“Daniel arrived with a very poor prognosis and presented our team with an extreme situation,” said Dr. Srikanth Davuluri, Pulmonologist, Intensivist, and Sleep Medicine Physician. “The Intensive Care Unit team, other specialists, and I swiftly formulated an aggressive, multi-disciplinary approach to save Daniel’s life. Dr. Gegenheimer could not repair Daniel’s fracture until Dr. Rmeileh removed the blood clots. The curve ball of finding the hole in Daniel’s heart clogged with a large blood clot was unexpected yet skillfully handled by Dr. Rmeileh. This entire situation was so unique, and Daniel would not have had such a successful outcome without this hospital’s overall preparedness and commitment to excellence. The Froedtert South leadership is dedicated to equipping every department and specialty with the support and technology needed to be prepared for anything. It is because of Froedtert South’s impressive commitment to excellence that our team was ready to tackle this extreme case.”
It’s a Great Day to be Alive
“I never knew I had a hole in my heart,” said Daniel. “With the repairs to my heart, I feel fantastic- like I could run a hundred-yard dash. Once my leg heals, I just might do that. I owe these doctors and nurses my life. I used to take my days for granted, often thinking that I could put off tasks until tomorrow. Now, tomorrow is here, and it’s a great day to be alive!”
Michelle said, “It is outstanding that my dad has been able to receive every emergency procedure, therapy, and follow-up appointment, all conveniently located close to home. It is wonderful that all the doctors communicate and work together so that everyone, especially my dad and me, are always informed. These wonderful people saved my dad’s life, and I will be forever grateful.”
Dr. Davuluri said, “With all these specialties located at Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital, our team was able to save Daniel’s life. From the emergency department staff to the ICU nurses, surgeons, and occupational therapists, caring for Daniel has been a comprehensive team effort. This was an extraordinary case, and I am proud of my colleagues and so happy to witness Daniel’s remarkable recovery.”
“Froedtert South has made significant advancements in securing world-class professionals and state-of-the-art technology to readily provide life-saving procedures for the people of this community,” said Dr. Rmeileh. “I am proud of our growth and that our team worked together to achieve such a positive outcome for Daniel and his daughter. I live in this community, and if I needed emergency care, I, too, would choose Froedtert South.”
For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact:
· Dr. Davuluri, Pulmonologist, Intensivist, and Sleep Medicine Physician at 262-577-8300
· Dr. Gegenheimer, Orthopedic Surgeon at 262-656-3590
· Dr. Rmeileh, Interventional Cardiologist at 262-656-3650
