From staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — St. Vincent’s East is the first in the Birmingham area and one of the first in the state to offer the LUTONIX ® .035 Drug Coated Balloon PTA Catheter (DCB) to patients.
The Drug Coated Balloon uses cutting-edge technology to open blockages in the legs, which helps maintain circulation for peripheral artery disease patients.
The new device is similar to balloons currently being used to open arteries, but is the first of its kind to also release medicine from the balloon into the treatment area to improve blood flow. Unlike a stent, the balloon is removed following the minimally invasive procedure with the medicine remaining. By delivering medicine directly to the inside of the artery, the new technology offers PAD patients a long-term treatment option to improve their quality of life and reduce the need for amputation.
“St. Vincent’s East is excited to be the first in our market to offer our PAD patients a life-changing technology,” said Michael Korpiel, president and COO of St. Vincent’s East. “We have a longstanding reputation for providing innovative vascular care to our patients. This new technology only builds on that commitment to offer our patients the latest and most effective treatment options to improve their outcomes.”
PAD occurs when blood vessels in the legs and feet become narrowed or blocked by a buildup of a fatty substance called plaque.