Medical Supply Mogul Becomes the Patient: Beating the Odds with Tulane's Care
Ricky DeCastro, Sr. is usually the person helping others with their medical needs. As the owner and president of two New Orleans-area medical supply companies, he helps patients of all ages with custom orthotics and prosthetics and works with many of the region’s neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons.
DeCastro never expected that he’d be the patient needing help until he was rushed to East Jefferson General Hospital with a bleeding brain aneurysm. Nearly 25% of people who experience a brain aneurysm rupture die within 24 hours, and more than 65% of those who survive experience permanent brain damage.
Arthur Wang, MD, and Aaron Dumont, MD, MBA, both board-certified neurosurgeons in the Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, knew they needed to act immediately. They employed a novel endovascular flow-diverting stent technique to treat the aneurysm, which was a rare and dangerous subtype of aneurysm.
After the procedure at East Jefferson General Hospital, DeCastro was cared for by Shannon Hextrum. MD, Director of Neurocritical Care at East Jefferson General Hospital, along with Bonnie Koepp, FNP-C, lead nurse practitioner of neurosurgery, therapists and other members for various medical issues.
Because of the excellent care he received, DeCastro made a remarkable recovery. He continued his rehabilitation at Touro Infirmary’s physical therapy program and ultimately returned to the New Orleans community to resume his role as a leader and advocate for others.
