From Crisis to Closure

In 2017, Traci Brookshire was rushed to the Phelps Health Emergency Department (ED) when an arterial blood clot blocked blood flow to her leg. Her medical team feared the worst.

“I was going to lose my leg without treatment,” said Traci, age 51, of Rolla.

Chukwudi Nwodo, MD, a Phelps Health ED physician, soon discovered that Traci wasn’t dealing with just one blood clot. She was experiencing a thrombotic storm—a rare and dangerous condition where many blood clots form quickly. Traci was flown out for emergency vascular surgery.

During surgery, doctors discovered a patent foramen ovale (PFO), a hole between the upper chambers of her heart. Everyone has this hole before birth, but the flap that covers it typically seals within the first year of life. In patients with a PFO, the hole fails to close naturally, increasing the risk of stroke and severe blood clots like the one Traci had experienced. The PFO had allowed the clots to enter her bloodstream and travel throughout her body.

Traci, who works in the Phelps Health General Surgery Department, was surprised to learn of her condition, which had gone undetected for over 40 years. However, she remembered signs that she hadn’t understood at the time.

“There were times when I was short of breath when I shouldn’t have been,” Traci explained. “I had little symptoms that didn’t make sense.”

Over the next few years, Traci’s medical team closely monitored her condition. In June 2024, she underwent a procedure to close the PFO at one of Phelps Health’s two cardiac catheterization labs.

On the day of her procedure, Traci was understandably a little nervous, and light sedation helped to calm her nerves.

Phelps Health Interventional Cardiologist Stilianos Efstratiadis, MD performed the minimally invasive PFO closure. He used a catheter inserted through a vein near her groin to deliver a device that would seal the hole in her heart. When the catheter reached Traci’s heart, the device was deployed, opening into two discs, one on each side of the PFO flap, to seal the hole.

“It seemed like it was over before it even started. There was just a Band-Aid, and no pain whatsoever,” Traci said, praising the skill and efficiency of Dr. Efstratiadis and his team.

Since the procedure, Traci has had several echocardiograms (heart ultrasounds) to ensure the closure device is working as expected. All of her results have been excellent, giving her peace of mind that her stroke risk is now much lower.

Before her 2017 emergency, Traci had never seen a cardiologist. Now, she emphasizes the value of having specialized cardiac care available locally. As a Phelps Health employee, she has an insider’s view of her healthcare team.

“I know my doctors. I see their work ethic and how they treat patients. I knew I wanted my care to be here,” Traci said. “I feel like an active participant in my healthcare. I’m the one who knows me best, and my doctors listen to me.”

Traci frequently uses Phelps Health’s MyChart app to check lab results, refill prescriptions and communicate with her providers.

“I use it for almost everything except ordering pizza,” she joked.

Traci highly recommends the Phelps Health Heart and Vascular Center to anyone needing specialized cardiac care. She encourages others with a PFO to consider the closure procedure if their doctor advises.

“I have complete faith in Dr. Efstratiadis,” she said, “We are so blessed to have him here at Phelps Health.”