Danville, Ky. (June 29, 2016) – Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, as part of its Heart & Vascular Program, today announced that it is the first hospital in Kentucky to evaluate the recently introduced Phoenix® Atherectomy System in a patient suffering from peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
The system is designed to cut, capture and clear blockages from the peripheral arteries to restore blood flow to the lower extremities. Dr. Sharat Koul, interventional cardiologist at Ephraim McDowell Heart & Vascular Institute and co-director of The Limb Preservation Program used the device in a patient with a non-healing ulcer on his foot. He used the device to open an occluded artery located below the knee in order to improve blood flow and facilitate healing of the wound.
Atherectomy is a minimally invasive endovascular surgery technique for removing atherosclerosis from blood vessels within the body. It is used most often to treat peripheral arterial disease of the lower extremities. Unlike angioplasty or stents, which push plaque into the vessel wall, atherectomy cuts plaque from the wall of the artery.
The system has been designed to provide physicians with a versatile, easy to use, primary therapy for treating PAD to restore blood flow to the lower extremities. The over-the wire system uses a rotating, front-cutting element located at its tip to shave material directly into the catheter. The material is then continuously captured and removed by an internal screw running the length of the catheter. The new device is available in multiple sizes to treat diseased vessels from the thigh to the foot with catheter sizes down to 1.8mm in diameter.
“We continuously strive to use the most technically-advanced and effective devices and procedures to ensure the best outcomes for our patients,” said Dr. Koul. “This cutting-edge therapy is designed to address several limitations associated with current atherectomy systems. I am pleased that this new tool is now available at Ephraim McDowell to help enhance my treatment options for patients with peripheral arterial disease.”
For more information on treatment options for PAD or to schedule an appointment at Ephraim McDowell Heart & Vascular Institute, please call (859) 236-6621.
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