Leading edge technology used to treat artery disease

Thursday, November 20, 2008 3:00 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend | A physician at Rowan Regional Medical Center is the first in the Carolinas to treat patients with peripheral arterial disease using a device recently approved by the FDA.

Dr. Paul Capito used the Jetstream Pathway PV Atherectomy System for the first time Oct. 22. Capito, an interventional radiologist who specializes in minimally invasive, targeted treatments that provide an alternative to open surgical procedures, said the device worked very well.

The new device clears away and removes potentially deadly artery-clogging plaque in leg arteries of people suffering from peripheral arterial disease, a chronic condition affecting nearly 12 million Americans.

Peripheral arterial disease, also known as PAD, occurs when plaque builds up on the inside walls of blood vessels, causing a blockage of blood flow to the extremities, and is often associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and aging. This condition often leads to amputation.

Capito, who also does angioplasty and stenting procedures on PAD patients, is the only physician in North and South Carolina selected to use the new device.

The Jetstream Pathway PV Atherectomy System is the first on the market capable of treating an entire spectrum of disease found in the PAD patient, including hard and soft plaque, calcium, thrombus and fibrotic lesions with consistent clinical results. The Jetstream catheter is equipped with tiny rotating blades and a vacuum that cuts through accumulated plaque in the arteries of the legs and then vacuums away the debris left behind.

This treatment has the potential to reduce procedure time and minimize vessel trauma, which can mean fewer complications for patients. Removing the plaque that has been cut loose also minimizes the potential for that plaque to travel back through the leg's arteries and cause another blockage.

PAD usually affects adults age 60 and older, but patients can be younger. While people with elevated cholesterol, smokers or those with a history of heart disease can develop the disease, many people do not even realize they have blocked arteries.

Unfortunately, despite the large number of sufferers, traditionally invasive treatments for PAD, such as bypass surgery, coupled with a lack of consumer education, means that the condition is responsible for more than 150,000 leg amputations each year.

It is estimated that only about 400,000 patients receive the endovascular intervention in the lower limbs they need. In addition, many patients are poor surgical candidates for whom surgery can be life threatening.

Jetstream Pathway PV Atherectomy System offers an alternative for patients looking for the benefits of a minimally invasive treatment option, including faster recovery and decreased systemic complications.