Ascension St. Vincent's Uses New Treatment That Creates Shockwaves To Open Hardened Arteries

From The JAX Chamber:

May 5, 2021

Jacksonville, Fla – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new treatment option for patients with hardened, narrowed arteries in the heart that is now available at Ascension St. Vincent's – the first health system in Northeast Florida to use it. The treatment for calcified coronary arteries involves a new application of an existing technology, called lithotripsy, which uses sonic pressure waves to safely break up kidney stones.

Cardiologists at Ascension St. Vincent’s are now able to place a tiny lithotripsy device inside clogged arteries to break up calcium deposits that are restricting blood flow in the heart.

As people with coronary artery disease age, plaque in the arteries hardens into calcium deposits, which can narrow the artery. Calcium also makes the artery rigid and more difficult to reopen with conventional treatments like balloon angioplasty and stents, which are tiny tubes inserted to keep the artery open.

The new use of intravascular lithotripsy, also called shockwave technology, allows doctors to break up the rigid calcium using a catheter that emits sonic pressure waves. After the calcium is cracked, doctors can expand the artery more easily and safely, with minimal trauma to normal artery tissue.

“Shockwave lithotripsy can disrupt some of the most hardened calcium deposits,” said Dr. Samer Garas, an interventional cardiologist at Ascension St. Vincent’s. “This can allow us to achieve good stent results without the need for more invasive procedures which makes it even safer to treat some of our more complex patient cases.”

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. Each year, more than 600,000 people in the United States die of heart disease.

“We always want to provide our community with the most innovative and effective care options available in a safe environment,” said Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Estrellita Redmon. “Ascension St. Vincent’s has a local legacy of innovation in heart care and is often the first in our community to offer new treatment options to those we serve. We’re excited to provide this innovative treatment to our patients with heart disease.”

To learn more about heart care at Ascension St. Vincent’s, visit www.jaxhealth.com.

This press release was produced by The JAX Chamber. The views expressed here are the author’s own.