Good news of Peripheral Arterial Disease

New Procedure Offers Hope for Sufferers of
Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peoria Cardiothoracic Surgeon James Williams, MD and Methodist Medical Center is the first local physician and hospital to offer a new treatment option for people suffering from the debilitating effects of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). Dr. Williams has completed specialized training for a new device known as the Diamondback 360 Orbital Atherectomy System.

According to Dr. Williams, “Peripheral Arterial Disease is a life-threatening condition where a fatty material called plaque builds up on the inside walls of the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the legs and arms. The build up of plaque causes the arteries to harden and narrow-a condition called atherosclerosis-reducing blood flow to the legs and feet.”

The Diamondback 360 differs from other treatment options for PAD by using a unique diamond coated crown that operates on the principles of centrifugal force. As the crown rotates and orbits increases, centrifugal force presses the crown against the plaque, removing a small amount of plaque with each orbit. The process of repeated sanding and orbital action allows the healthy vessel wall to flex away from the crown reducing the potential for vessel injury.

“This system is allowing physicians to treat patients with hardened calcified plaque who otherwise might have limited options for a return to normal blood flow,” said Dr Williams. “After an atherectomy, balloon angioplasty may be used to further open the artery, and a stent may also be inserted for added vessel wall reinforcement.”

Over twelve million people in the U.S. alone suffer from PAD, which can cause debilitating pain in the legs. It is estimated that less than two million people are actually diagnosed with PAD and less than 700,000 are treated each year.