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\u201cThis minimally invasive procedure has been proven to be a safe and effective treatment, and provides hope to several high-risk patients, who may also suffer from diabetes, kidney and heart disease,\u201d Dr. Sheth said. \u201cRestoring blood flow in a leg enhances the patient\u2019s ability to walk painlessly, so they can partake in physical exercise, which helps improve their overall health.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unlike traditional methods for treating hardened blocked arteries, including balloon angioplasty and stents–which can have a higher rate of failure–or bypass surgery requiring multiple large incisions along the leg, in this PTAB technique, a surgeon passes a stent from healthy femoral artery in the groin into the adjacent femoral vein and then re-enters into healthy popliteal artery around the knee. It\u2019s like taking a detour in a car, when one of the outbound lanes of the interstate highway is converted to an inbound lane in case of accident or construction, before it rejoins the original inbound lane. In the leg, the outbound lane is usually double the size of the inbound lane and can easily accommodate this extra traffic.<\/p>\n
To date, St. Luke\u2019s vascular surgeons Lynne Doctor, MD; Michael Qaqish, MD; and Sharvil Sheth, MD have successfully treated three patients with this innovative technique. This novel incisionless bypass procedure takes place in a St. Luke\u2019s hybrid operating room at its Allentown or Bethlehem campus, requiring about 2.5 hours to complete. Patients are discharged the same day on oral blood thinners.<\/p>\n
Peripheral arterial disease is a narrowing or total blockage in the leg that affects about 12 to 19 million Americans. This condition occurs over time due to various risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol that cause fatty deposits in the wall of the blood vessel. These same risk factors can also narrow blood vessels in other parts of the body such as the heart, neck, brain, kidney and intestines. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. In advanced cases, leg blockages can progress into non-healing foot wounds, gangrene, and sometimes lead to partial or complete amputation of the foot or leg.<\/p>\n
About St. Luke\u2019s<\/strong><\/p>\n Founded in 1872, St. Luke\u2019s University Health Network<\/a><\/strong> (SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network of more than 20,000 employees providing services at 15 campuses and 350+ outpatient sites. With annual net revenue of $3.4 billion, the Network\u2019s service area includes 11 counties in two states: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. St. Luke\u2019s hospitals operate the largest network of trauma centers in Pennsylvania, with the Bethlehem Campus being home to St. Luke\u2019s Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n Dedicated to advancing medical education, St. Luke\u2019s is the preeminent teaching hospital in central-eastern Pennsylvania. In partnership with Temple University, the Network established the Lehigh Valley\u2019s first and only four-year medical school campus. It also operates the nation\u2019s oldest School of Nursing, established in 1884, and 52 fully accredited graduate medical educational programs with more than 500 residents and fellows. In 2022, St. Luke\u2019s, a member of the Children\u2019s Hospital Association, opened the Lehigh Valley\u2019s first and only free-standing facility dedicated entirely to kids.<\/p>\n SLUHN is the only Lehigh Valley-based health care system to earn Medicare\u2019s five-star<\/em> ratings (the highest) for quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction. It is both a Leapfrog Group and Healthgrades Top Hospital<\/em> and a Newsweek World\u2019s Best Hospital<\/em>. The Network\u2019s flagship University Hospital has earned the 100 Top Major Teaching Hospital<\/em> designation from Fortune\/PINC AI 10 years in a row, including in 2023 when it was identified as THE #4 TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY. In 2021, St. Luke\u2019s was identified as one of the 15 Top Health Systems<\/em> nationally. Utilizing the Epic electronic medical record (EMR) system for both inpatient and outpatient services, the Network is a multi-year recipient of the Most Wired<\/em> award recognizing the breadth of the SLUHN\u2019s information technology applications such as telehealth, online scheduling and online pricing information. The Network is also recognized as one of the state\u2019s lowest-cost providers.<\/p>\n Information provided to TVL by: St. Luke\u2019s University Health Network vascular surgeons are first in the area to offer a new, incisionless procedure that restores blood supply to the leg by bypassing long, chronic total … Continue reading St. Luke\u2019s Vascular Surgeons Pioneer New Incisionless Bypass Treatment for Blocked Leg Arteries<\/span>
\nSam Kennedy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"