Surgeons at The Valley Hospital, Ridgewood, New Jersey, have successfully used a new drug-coated balloon to treat peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the upper leg. PAD is a debilitating disease that occurs when arteries become narrowed or blocked by plaque buildup, restricting blood flow. The disease is associated with an increased risk for amputation, heart attack, and stroke.
Recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, drug-coated balloons are a breakthrough therapy for the treatment of PAD, specifically in cases affecting arteries in the thigh and behind the knee. During the procedure, an inflated balloon pushes the plaque away to create a channel for blood flow. The medication on the balloon’s surface is absorbed into the artery wall, and the balloon is then removed with only the medication left behind.
“The new drug-coated balloons represent a real game changer for patients,” said Daniel Char, MD, director of vascular surgery at Valley. “Other minimally invasive procedures have been associated with the need for repeat procedures within six to 12 months because the plaque buildup returns to the vessel wall. The medication
that coats this balloon and is left behind following the procedure reduces this risk for repeat procedures.”
This article was adapted from information provided by Valley Health System.
