Patient Experience
A 28-year-old female professional freediver from Montenegro presented with debilitating migraines after deep dives. Dr. Agolli discovered a rare, tiny arteriovenous fistula in her occipital region, likely exacerbated by pressure changes. Using ultra-fine microcatheters, he performed a delicate transvenous embolization. The patient made a full recovery and returned to competitive freediving within three months, now using modified ascent protocols.
A 72-year-old retired shipyard welder from Piraeus, Greece, with severe COPD and a complex history of asbestos exposure, developed a massive hemothorax from a ruptured intercostal artery aneurysm. Too frail for surgery, Dr. Agolli performed an emergency CT-guided embolization via a collateral arterial network, a technically demanding approach. The bleeding stopped, but the patient's respiratory status remained fragile, requiring permanent oxygen therapy.
A 7-year-old boy from a rural Turkish village was brought in with progressive leg swelling and pain. Imaging revealed a rare congenital venous malformation (Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome variant) compressing his iliac vein. Dr. Agolli performed a novel combination of direct percutaneous sclerotherapy and stent placement in a pediatric interventional radiology first for the hospital. The child's symptoms resolved significantly, but he will need periodic monitoring into adulthood.
A 45-year-old internationally touring oud musician from Cairo presented with acute hand ischemia, threatening his career. Dr. Agolli diagnosed a rare hypothenar hammer syndrome from years of instrument playing. He performed a successful catheter-directed thrombolysis and angioplasty of the ulnar artery. The musician regained full dexterity and composed a piece inspired by the whirring sounds of the angiography machine.