Physician at RRMC Treats Patient Suffering from Peripheral Arterial Disease with Minimally Invasive Device

Salisbury, NCóDr. Paul Capito at Rowan Regional Medical Center in Salisbury is the first physician in the state of North Carolina to treat patients using a device recently approved by the FDA that clears away and removes potentially deadly artery clogging plaque in leg arteries for those suffering from peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PAD is a chronic condition that affects nearly 12 million Americans and 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.

iThe procedure went very well,î said Dr. Capito, an interventional radiologist at RRMC who specializes in minimally invasive, targeted treatments that provide an alternative to open surgical procedures. iTechnology in the medical field is always changing, and we like to be on the leading edge of technology that assures the best outcomes for our patients,î he said.

The Jetstreamô Pathway PVô 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 legís arteries and cause another blockage.

iThis treatment represents an innovative and minimally invasive solution to clear blockages in the peripheral arteries, restoring blood flow and effectively treating the disease without surgery,î according to Dr. Capito.

PAD usually affects adults from age 60 and older, but patients can be younger. Further, while people with elevated cholesterol, smokers or those with a history of heart disease can develop PAD, many people do not 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 PAD is responsible for more than 150,000 leg amputations each year and 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.

Rowan Regional Medical Center, affiliated with Novant Health, is a private, not-for-profit acute care hospital based in Salisbury with over 150 active physicians representing more than 35 medical specialties.