Symptoms That Didn鈥檛 Add Up
When John Bringhurst first started struggling with his breathing in 2022, he wondered if it was a long-term side effect from COVID-19. His doctor prescribed asthma medication in the hopes it would improve his breathing.
In 2024, Bringhurst was still struggling. Since he had always been healthy and physically active, it was overwhelming for him. 鈥淚t just hit me out of the blue, and I was losing hope,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know what was wrong, and I couldn鈥檛 breathe.鈥
As his symptoms worsened, he scheduled a follow-up with his doctor in Twin Falls, Idaho. 鈥淟uckily, my wife went with me to my appointment, and she talked the doctor into doing a chest x-ray,鈥 Bringhurst said.
The x-ray showed a large mass the size of a softball in the upper right side of his chest. A CT scan confirmed that the mass was actually an aneurysm in his right subclavian artery. That night, Bringhurst was at the hospital having surgery in his hometown of Twin Falls, Idaho.
鈥淭he doctors plugged each end of the aneurysm in the artery so it would be less likely to burst,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 spent a few days in the hospital and thought all was well.鈥
A Call That Changed Everything
Initially, Bringhurst鈥檚 breathing got better because the aneurysm repair took the pressure off his chest. Over time, things got worse again. That鈥檚 when he got a phone call from Nathan M. Droz, MD, a vascular surgeon at 麻豆学生精品版.
Droz is part of U of U Health鈥檚 Aortic Disease Program, the leading location in the Mountain West for diagnosing and treating people with complex aortic disease. The multidisciplinary program has specialty-trained and board-certified cardiac surgeons, vascular surgeons, cardiologists, radiologists, anesthesiologists, and nurses.
Only a few other programs of its kind exist in the United States with the resources and ability to handle complex, never-before-seen aortic issues.
While Bringhurst was initially surprised by the call from Droz, he was extremely grateful. 鈥淚 have the voicemail saved,鈥 Bringhurst said. 鈥淗e told me he wanted to schedule another surgery with me to fix my problem once and for all.鈥
For Droz, reaching out to new patients鈥攎any of whom live out of state鈥攊s part of his everyday job.
鈥淚 connect with vascular surgeons across the entire western region who are treating patients that may need more specialized care,鈥 Droz said. 鈥淢ore than half of our practice is out of state.鈥
Collaborative Expertise Leads to Recovery
On February 20, two months after the initial phone call from Droz, Bringhurst traveled to Utah for a consultation. In addition to Droz, he met Jason P. Glotzbach, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon who practices cardiac surgery and specializes in aortic surgery.
For Glotzbach, collaborating and partnering with other surgeons to treat patients across the region is an important part of the job.
鈥淲e are trying to provide a service and be good partners for the community and for other surgeons across the region,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e have built our Aortic Disease Program to be a resource for the more complex, higher-risk patients that require more focused, specialized expertise.鈥
Glotzbach and Droz outlined what surgery would be like for Bringhurst. 鈥淏y then, I was so ready to do it,鈥 he said. 鈥淢y breathing sucked and it was so bad.鈥
Bringhurst鈥檚 surgery was a collaborative team effort. Droz, Glotzbach, and Andrea M. Steely, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon who specializes in aortic surgery, led the surgical team.
For Steely, taking the time to bond with every patient she treats is key. 鈥淏ecause of the size of our institution, we can take the time to get to know each patient and their families,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e can offer innovative care for patients with complicated problems and make sure they know we see them as an individual.鈥
For Bringhurst, this meant the world. 鈥淒r. Steely and I met after my surgery and we immediately had a connection,鈥 he said. 鈥淪he became my lifeline during my time at the hospital.鈥
While the surgery was a success, Bringhurst did face complications. A blood clot formed in his chest soon after surgery, which triggered mini-strokes. 鈥淒r. Steely was in there when it was happening and helped me through the process in real time,鈥 Bringhurst said. 鈥淪he was just absolutely amazing, and that meant everything to me.鈥
During his almost two-week hospital stay, Bringhurst saw at least one member of his surgical team daily. Glotzbach and Droz visited, and Steely checked in every day.
A healthy, active 60-year-old, Bringhurst had no signs of chronic disease or any other underlying conditions, which stood out to his team. A thorough review of his medical history brought answers to what caused his aneurysm.
鈥淚 was in a car accident 40+ years ago when I was 17,鈥 Bringhurst said. 鈥淚 went through the windshield and broke my arm. The trauma to my chest in that accident has got to be the reason why this artery was weakened, leading to things getting worse and worse over time.鈥
Today, Bringhurst is doing well. He has been given the all-clear to return to his normal activities. 鈥淚鈥檓 still healing inside, but I鈥檓 really back to what I would say is somewhat normal,鈥 he said. 鈥淢y breathing is so much better, and I鈥檓 realizing how bad it was before.鈥
Bringhurst will always be grateful for Droz, Glotzbach, and Steely and the care and attention he received from the very beginning.
鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 for Droz鈥檚 initiative, it would have dragged along and it wouldn鈥檛 have been good...That initial phone call started everything.鈥
