Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a buildup of plaque in the arteries reducing the amount of blood that flows to the legs and feet. PAD affects more than 20 million people in the United States. Symptoms of PAD can include painful cramping, numbness and/or
discoloration of the legs or feet. In serious cases or when left untreated, PAD can lead to tissue death and/or amputation. PAD can increase the risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke and mini-strokes.
New Treatments Available for PAD
Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital is one of the first hospitals in Tucson to offer the lumivascular atherectomy technology, which is an innovative image-guided atherectomy therapy that, for the first time ever, allows physicians to see and remove plaque simultaneously during atherectomy – a minimally invasive procedure that involves cutting plaque away from the artery and clearing out to restore blood flow.
How the Image Guided Atherectomy Works
Unlike angioplasty and stenting, which are other treatments available, that push plaque to the side, this system involves cutting and removing the plaque from the artery. Additionally, this treatment enables physicians to see inside the artery during
the procedure through a video camera on the tip of the device. In the past, physicians have had to rely solely on x-ray as well as touch and feel guidance from their tools during the procedure.
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