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Fast, Effective Minimally Invasive Treatment for People with PAD

Caldwell Memorial Hospital offers a new treatment option for patients suffering from peripheral artery disease (PAD). The treatment uses a laser ablation system to restore blood flow in leg arteries. PAD is a cardiovascular disease that restricts or blocks blood flow in the legs. Arterial blockages, or hardening of the arteries, occur when plaque, thrombus or calcium builds up along artery walls and, if left untreated, can lead to sores that do not heal or heal slowly. Those with PAD are at increased risk for heart disease, aortic aneurysms, and stroke. So, it is important to recognize symptoms early and seek treatment. Early warning signs may include dull or cramping pain in the buttocks, hips, thighs or calf muscles, or numbness or tingling in the leg, foot, or toes.

Spectranetics’ excimer, or “cool,” laser produces pulsed bursts of ultraviolet (UV) light energy that vaporize blockages in the arteries into tiny particles that are easily absorbed into the bloodstream. Patients experience very little, if any, discomfort during this procedure.

“Nearly 160,000 amputations happen every year that could have been prevented. Amputation is a complicated procedure that changes one’s life forever. Patients should not be subjected to this life-altering procedure when a minimally invasive treatment option exists to restore blood flow to the legs and feet,” says Peter Purcell, MD, the endovascular surgeon with The Caldwell Vascular Center. “The Spectranetics’ laser ablation system is unlike any other interventional method available. It is quick and effective. Patients are typically back on their feet and pain-free in two days or less.”