Vergas Man Saved by Critical Medical Intervention

Arden Shulstad went into his doctor seeking aid for abdominal pain - soon, he was being flown to Fargo for emergency surgery.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR)  – 67-year-old Arden Shulstad had never been hospitalized and had no issues aside from mild arthritis and needing blood pressure medication.

So, even though he was constipated and had abdominal pain, he put off going to see his primary care physician, Garrett Penton of Essentia Health in Detroit Lakes, until his sister-in-law insisted he make an appointment.

And even then – he nearly didn’t follow through.

“He actually told me that he almost cancelled his appointment that day because he was feeling better,” laughed Penton, a certified physician assistant.

The doctors are sure glad he didn’t cancel – because what was leading to Arden’s issues was an abdominal aortic aneurysm, or AAA.

A normal aorta is about three centimeters in diameter. Arden’s was nine centimeters, and it had ruptured.

That meant the Essentia team had to act fast.

He was prepped for surgery in Detroit Lakes – then flown to Fargo to complete the procedure.

Only one in five people survive this condition – leaving Dr. Adam DeFoe of Essentia in Fargo in a tough situation.

“It’s truly an emergent situation, you don’t know what’s going to happen,” Dr. DeFoe explained. “And actually, as soon as Arden hit our doors, his heart stopped for approximately 30 seconds.”

Amazingly, though, because of the intervention, Arden survived, leaving the hospital about a week later with minimal aftereffects.

The Essentia branches credit their great communication for the success of the procedure, and Arden can’t thank them enough for their efforts.

“”I’m extremely grateful,” he said. “A lot of people did the right thing. A lot of people were on the ball and did their job right that day.”