Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common circulatory problem in which fats, cholesterol and other substances (plaque) build up inside the arteries in the legs and obstruct blood flow to the lower limbs and feet. Commonwealth Health is the first in Northeastern Pennsylvania to offer image-guided atherectomy therapy, which allows physicians to see and remove plaque simultaneously during atherectomy – a minimally invasive procedure that involves cutting plaque away from the artery and clearing it out to restore blood flow.
Unlike angioplasty and stenting, which are other treatments available that push plaque to the side, this system involves cutting and removing the plaque from the artery. Additionally, this treatment enables physicians to see inside the artery during the procedure through a video camera on the tip of the device. In the past, physicians have had to rely solely on x-ray as well as touch and feel guidance from their tools during the procedure.