Lake Charles, LA –Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Thomas Mulhearn, utilized the first Lutonix ® Drug Coated Balloon PTA Catheter (DCB) in Southwest Louisiana in a procedure performed at CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital last week.
CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital is proud to bring this technology to SWLA. Lutonix ® Drug Coated Balloon PTA Catheter (DCB), the first and only Drug Coated Balloon approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for minimally invasive treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) in the femoropopliteal artery, a life-threatening condition, affects millions of Americans by narrowing arteries and reducing blood flow to the limbs, according to American Heart Association (AHA) estimates. Patients with PAD in the femoropopliteal arteries are at risk for lower-extremity amputation, particularly in people over the age of 50. Minimally-invasive endovascular procedures such as angioplasty balloons and stents, medications and vascular bypass surgery are some of the accepted ways to treat PAD, but these options may be limited depending on the type of arterial blockage.
Successful treatment of PAD requires improved blood flow (patency) for longer periods of time. A recent clinical study demonstrated superior primary patency with the Lutonix ® Drug Coated Balloon for the efficacy endpoint. The LUTONIX® balloon is coated with a drug that prevents re-narrowing of the treated artery to improve long-term results for patients with PAD.
“We are committed to bringing innovations in care to our patients, keeping them here at home for their healthcare, and we are excited to be the first hospital in Southwest Louisiana to offer this new treatment option to our patients,” said Dr. Thomas Mulhearn. “The Lutonix ® Drug Coated Balloon is a new first-line therapy for treating blockages without closing the door to other treatment options down the road, an important consideration as we help our patients manage this painful, progressive and debilitating disease.”
For more information about this new treatment option or any cardiovascular problem, call (337) 436-3813.