Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) has continued its commitment to setting the standard for care, becoming the first hospital in the Michiana region to offer a new treatment for patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).
PAD occurs from a buildup of plaque (a fatty material) in the arteries that carry blood to the limbs, most commonly the legs. The plaque buildup prevents the flow of blood and may lead to leg pain, skin ulcers, gangrene or amputation. SJRMC recently became the first hospital in Michiana to offer the Lutonix 035 Drug Coated Balloon Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty Catheter (Lutonix DCB) to treat patients with PAD.
The Lutonix DCB is inserted in the artery through a long, thin tube called a catheter. Once inside the plaque-filled artery, the Lutonix DCB is inflated by the physician to open the passage way. The Lutonix DCB is coated with the drug paclitaxel, which may keep the artery from narrowing again after the procedure, an improvement on traditional angioplasty procedures.
“We are committed to offering new technologies and treatments for our community,” said Zachary Leshen, M.D., interventional cardiologist with the SJRMC Heart Team. “Interventional therapies like the Lutonix DCB are forward-thinking approaches that improve patients’ quality of life.”
Lutonix DCB is a first-line therapy that allows physicians to treat blockages but doesn’t affect future treatments that may be necessary, said Terrence Wilkin, M.D., interventional radiologist, on staff at SJRMC.
“PAD is a serious and painful condition affecting many members of our community,” Dr. Wilkin said. “While it’s important to treat the initial blockage, it’s just as important to prevent future blockages from occurring.”
Tobacco use, obesity, high cholesterol and physical inactivity are all risk factors for PAD. Common PAD symptoms include leg pain that does not go away, foot or toe wounds that won’t heal, gangrene and a marked decrease in the temperature of the lower leg or foot, particularly compared to the other leg or to the rest of the body.
About Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) is a not-for-profit, multi-hospital healthcare system located in North Central Indiana, offering a full range of services. SJRMC includes: a 254-bed acute care hospital at our Mishawaka Campus; a 58-bed acute care hospital at our Plymouth Campus; a 40-bed Rehabilitation Institute; Outpatient services of the Elm Road Medical Campus; and the Saint Joseph Physician Network that includes 26 practices with more than 75 providers. All inpatient rooms at all SJRMC facilities are private.
A Catholic Ministry Organization of Trinity Health, SJRMC offers personalized, faith-based care paired with the latest in advanced medical technology and procedures. In 2012 and 2014 SJRMC was named one of the nation’s 15 Top Health Systems and awarded Top 5 for Small Health Systems. In July 2012, for the second year running, SJRMC was named one of the “Most Wired” hospitals. For more information, please visitwww.sjmed.com.
