LECOM Health has completed a first-of-its-kind vascular procedure in Western Pennsylvania. An Erie patient is now recovering
Inside LECOM’s cardiac cath lab, doctors used a new SeisMIQ device, and for one Erie patient, it could mean avoiding more serious complications.
“Is it able to go up into the artery and get right up against that calcium? It’s so difficult to expand or balloon, as we say. And then with the device, it sends energy out into the wall of the artery, kind of fracturing that calcium — making it more able so when the balloon comes in to expand. Think of a big boulder — if you were able to shock it and put little cracks all around the boulder, when you finally hit it with the sledgehammer, the whole thing kind of crumbles,” Dr. Matthew Becker, M.D., interventional cardiologist, explained.
The patient came in with severe peripheral arterial disease — a blockage in the femoral artery so calcified it was almost like stone. Blood flow to the foot was poor, and wounds were already forming on the great toe.
Dr. Becker says this technology could help many more patients with severe calcium disease in the legs — a group that has faced higher risks.
“Over half of people that go through an amputation are dead in two years, so that’s actually a worse prognosis than many cancers. It’s really important that we are successful at getting these arteries open. The reason we really want to try and do this without a major surgery is obviously patient comfort — reduced risk to the patient — and recovery time is better.”
The entire procedure took less than an hour. With blood flow restored, doctors expect quick healing and recovery.
“It really has finally undergone the complete study process to show it’s safe and effective, so I wanted to bring it into the lab and into the hands of Western Pennsylvania so that we are able to give patients the absolute best care.”