Treating Leg Pain from the Wrist
Physicians at Atrium Health Navicent Offer Innovative Approach for Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease
Physicians at The Medical Center, Navicent Health (MCNH) are utilizing new and innovative technology, the Diamondback 360® Extended Length Peripheral Orbital Atherectomy Device (OAD) from Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (CSI®) to treat patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).
PAD affects as many as 18 million Americans and is a circulatory condition in which narrowed and hardened blood vessels reduce blood flow to the limbs. If left untreated, PAD could lead to limb amputation. When surgery is needed, PAD can be treated by atherectomy - a minimally invasive procedure to open blocked arteries by using a device on the end of a catheter to remove built up plaque. Then, a balloon angioplasty or stent procedures is completed to restore blood flow. This procedure is frequently performed by accessing the artery through the groin. However, with new OAD extended length technology at MCNH, physicians are given an alternative access point in which the artery can be reached by going through the wrist.
"This technology is a huge win for patients with PAD. Accessing the artery from the wrist, rather than the groin, is much less invasive, leading to a faster recovery time and an overall better patient experience. Patients will experience the ability to walk less than an hour post-procedure and shorter hospital stays, on average," said Michael Klyachkin, MD, vascular surgeon with Vascular Institute, Atrium Health Navicent Physician Group.
Dr. Klyachkin became the first physician in the Macon area to use this innovative new procedure on October 29, 2019.
"We at Atrium Health Navicent are proud to be the first in the area to adopt this new technology for the treatment of peripheral artery disease. Atrium Health Navicent is committed to providing the safest and most advanced treatment options to enhance our patients' experiences and outcomes," said Tom Oliver, MD, Chief Clinical Officer for Atrium Health Navicent.
What is Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)?
As many as 18 million Americans, most over age 65, suffer from PAD, which is caused by the accumulation of plaque in peripheral arteries reducing blood flow. Symptoms include leg pain when walking or at rest. Left untreated, PAD can lead to severe pain, immobility, non-healing wounds and eventually limb amputation. With risk factors such as diabetes and obesity on the rise, the prevalence of PAD is growing at double-digit rates. Literature shows that Balloon angioplasty and stents can have significant shortcomings in treating hard, calcified lesions. Stents are prone to fractures and high recurrence rates, and treatment of hard, calcified lesions often leads to vessel damage and suboptimal results. Millions of patients with PAD may benefit from treatment with orbital atherectomy utilizing the Diamondback 360® and Stealth 360® Peripheral Orbital Atherectomy Systems, which are minimally invasive catheter systems developed and manufactured by CSI. These systems use a diamond-coated crown, attached to an orbiting shaft, which sands away plaque while preserving healthy vessel tissue "” a critical factor in preventing reoccurrences.
About Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., based in St. Paul, Minn., is a medical device company focused on developing and commercializing innovative solutions for treating vascular and coronary disease. The company's Orbital Atherectomy Systems treat calcified and fibrotic plaque in arterial vessels throughout the leg and heart in a few minutes of treatment time, and address many of the limitations associated with existing surgical, catheter and pharmacological treatment alternatives. The U.S. FDA granted the first 510(k) clearance for the use of the Orbital Atherectomy System in peripheral arteries in August 2007. In October 2013, the company received FDA approval for the Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System. To date, over 356,000 of CSI's devices have been sold to leading institutions across the United States. For more information, visit the company's website at www.csi360.com.
About Atrium Health Navicent
Atrium Health Navicent, the leading provider of healthcare in central and south Georgia, is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Providing more than 1,000 beds and offering care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region, Atrium Health Navicent provides care for healthcare consumers' through an academic medical center; community, pediatric and rehabilitation hospitals; urgent care centers; physician practices; diagnostic centers; home health; hospice and palliative care; and a life plan community. Atrium Health Navicent is dedicated enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally-recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. For more information, please visit www.navicenthealth.org.