The Washington University Center for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome at Barnes-Jewish Hospital cares for more patients with TOS than any other place in the country. “The chronic action of overhead movements, such as in pitching or ballet, can result in pinching of the subclavian vein and further narrowing from scar tissue, which then causes a blood clot to form.” Thompson, a board-certified vascular surgeon and the director of the Washington University Center for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. “Kathleen indeed had venous TOS, which also is sometimes called ‘effort thrombosis’ because it is caused by a blood clot after heavy exercise or strenuous arm movements,” says Dr. “The next morning, he wrote back in detail about his surgery and recommended his physician, Robert Thompson, MD, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. “That night, I looked him up on Facebook and e-mailed him,” says Kathleen. We all looked at each other and said ‘that’s exactly what happened to Kathleen.’” “He was diagnosed with Paget-Schroetter Syndrome, or what is called venous TOS. “There on the television was an announcer talking about Colin Bates, a North Carolina pitcher who had undergone thoracic outlet decompression surgery after a blood clot was found in his right shoulder,” says Judy. As her family despaired and considered surgery as a way to partially relieve the symptoms, Kathleen’s father turned on the television to watch the 2008 College World Series. I couldn’t imagine my life without dance.”ĭoctors tried a clot-busting procedure called thrombolysis, but because of delays in diagnosing her condition, the drugs were ineffective. “I just couldn’t bring myself to believe what the doctors were saying because ballet was such a huge part of my life. “Missing out on the summer programs was devastating, but I was in denial about the fact that my ballet career could be over,” she says. Kathleen was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital and then transferred to a second hospital. “I remember they did several tests after which we were told that Kathleen had a blood clot blocking her subclavian vein and three more clots in her lungs,” says Judy. Her instructors were startled at the size of her arm and told Kathleen’s mother to take her to an orthopedist as soon as possible. Still, Kathleen went to school that morning and then to the ballet academy. “By morning, my arm was swollen and I could barely write anything.” “It hurt so bad, I didn’t think I could make it down the stairs,” she recalls. “I just couldn’t wait for the summer to begin.”īut during final exams at the end of the school year, Kathleen woke up in the middle of the night with chest pain and tingling in one of her arms.
“I was so excited to have those opportunities,” says Kathleen.
At 16, Kathleen was headed for the “summer of her dreams” in 2008 when she auditioned among hundreds of hopefuls and was accepted to attend summer programs with the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York City and the Royal Ballet School of London. The hard work and passion for ballet started to pay off. “She would go to an academic prep school in the morning and then run to the ballet academy and practice four to six hours a day during the week, and then again all day on Saturday,” says her mother, Judy.
#THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME PROFESSIONAL#
Determined to become a professional dancer, she began spending hours a day at a prominent ballet academy in Houston while still a youngster. Just 16 years old, Kathleen had been enrolled in dance classes since the age of two.
Kathleen McClure remembers those words as a terminal sentence to her promising ballet career. Notice of Privacy Practice for Patients (HIPAA).What Your Can Expect from Your Visit – Staying in St.What You Can Expect From Your Visit – Overview.Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS).Arterial Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS).Types of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) Types of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS).Anatomy of the Thoracic Outlet Anatomy of the Thoracic Outlet.General Features of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS).
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