Managing Pulmonary Hypertension as a Bloodless Patient

Betty Siracusa had her tonsils removed at Englewood Hospital at age 8. That began a lifelong relationship with the hospital. She gave birth to each of her four children there, along with having three hip procedures and weight loss surgery. 

“I never considered any other hospital,” Betty says. “Englewood Hospital has always felt like home to me, like I was in a safe place. Although many people decline blood transfusions for religious reasons, for me it was for personal reasons. I never wanted someone else’s blood running through me.” 

Managing a Complex Challenge 

Recently, blood clots in Betty’s lung and leg and a COVID-19 infection led to severe pulmonary hypertension—high blood pressure in the arteries that carry blood into the lungs. This condition forces the heart to work harder. Breathing became difficult for Betty, and she needed supplemental oxygen. 

Englewood Health pulmonologist Srikant Kondapaneni, MD, led Betty’s care. He prescribed medications to treat the blood clots and pulmonary hypertension. 

“Betty became weak and bedbound, so we referred her to a rehabilitation facility to build her strength,” Dr. Kondapaneni says. “Eventually, she improved enough to go home, but she stopped taking the pulmonary hypertension medication because it caused a terrible upset stomach.” 

Prioritizing Quality of Life 

Pulmonary hypertension is manageable but not curable. Betty had to decide whether she wanted to give the medicine another try or stop treatment. Either way, she knew she wanted her time with her husband, children, and nine grandchildren to be as meaningful as possible. 

Ultimately, she chose to go back on the medicine. 

“We restarted Betty on the medicine, but at a lower dose and on a different schedule,” Dr. Kondapaneni says. “I see her monthly to assess how she’s doing with treatment.” 

Betty is making the most of her time by hosting her grandchildren for sleepovers and staying busy. 

“I have a great relationship with Dr. Kondapaneni, and he knows how important the quality of my time is to me,” Betty says. “We’re working on it together.”

Published February 2026