Wesley implements new technology to help catheter patients

Dr. Alan Covin, cardiologist at Heart South, recently performed one of the first catheter procedures in Hattiesburg using a new technology to make it easier on patients.

Covin used the Pioneer catheter at Wesley Medical Center to clear the arteries in the lower extremities of a patient who suffered from peripheral vascular disease. Also known as peripheral artery disease, PAD is caused when fatty deposits build up on the inner linings of large arteries in the arms or legs. Blockages restrict blood circulation, mainly in arteries leading to the kidneys, stomach, arms, legs and feet.

According to the American Heart Association's Web site, more than 8 million people suffer from peripheral artery disease. The most common symptoms of PAD are cramping, pain or tiredness in the leg or hip muscles while walking or climbing stairs. Typically, this pain goes away with rest and returns when you walk again. Covin said the procedure provides a quick alternative to surgery that could cause life-threatening complications in patients.

This new procedure goes over a totally blocked blood vessel through the arterial wall with a guide wire and intravascular ultrasound technology in a catheter, which allows the doctor to see inside of the vessel.

Dan Fischer, sales representative with Medtronic, maker of the catheter, said the technology has been available for almost nine months.

The Pioneer catheter is removed from the vessel but the wire remains, Fischer said. An angioplasty balloon is then inserted and the deposits are flattened and a stent is placed in the narrowed artery to keep the diseased artery open.

"Then we inject contrast dye and the rest of it's pretty standard," Covin said. He said the same type catheter was used years ago but the only difference is the Pioneer catheter has an ultrasound to assist with placement.

"The benefit is it gets past blockages and you know where you are going with the ultrasound," Fischer said. "The benefit is there are fewer things that can go wrong. With surgery, a patient could spend a couple of weeks in the hospital but with this procedure they're home the next day."

By LaTonya Frelix – Hattiesburg American 6/9/09