Deborah Specialists Debut Two New Technologies: New Advances in Minimally-Invasive Treatment of Peripheral Vascular Disease
Deborah Heart and Lung Center, has announced that its interventional cardiologists are now using two new breakthrough technologies in their treatment of peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Known as the “excavator” and the “jackhammer,” these two new devices – Frontrunner and Crosser (respectively manufactured by Cordis Corporation and FlowCardia, Inc.) – offer Deborah specialists two new tools in their PVD treatment arsenal.
PVD is a common syndrome affecting a large segment of the adult population. Blockages in the arteries of the limbs can cause burning pain, cramping, coldness, changes in skin color, rashes, or ulcers on the legs. Left untreated, PVD can be life-threatening, and can lead to gangrene requiring limb amputation.
Over the past few years, specialists at Deborah have been able to diagnose and treat PVD with minimally-invasive techniques that are catheter-based, avoiding the complications and prolonged recovery required with surgery. These two new devices greatly increase Deborah’s specialists’ range of activity.
“Frontrunner works like an excavator,” said Deborah Interventional Cardiologist Jon George, MD. “This is especially helpful when a patient has a chronic total occlusion (blockage) in an artery that previously might have led to bypass surgery or amputation. With such devices, we can now crack the plaque to create a channel to facilitate angioplasty and save the limb.”
Similarly, Crosser also has expanded the range of treatment options for patients.
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