Northwest Medical Center First to Treat PAD Through Wrist Access
1/10/2019
Tucson, AZ (January 10, 2019) — Northwest Medical Center (NMC) is the first Tucson hospital to treat peripheral artery disease (PAD) using a new technology that provides catheter access through the wrist instead of through the femoral artery. PAD occurs when arteries in the arms or legs become blocked by fatty plaque, decreasing blood flow to the limbs and resulting in tissue damage or tissue death.
According to vascular surgeon Scott Berman, M.D., who performed the procedure and is an independent member of the NMC medical staff, “The new technology allows us to clear blockages in the patient’s leg without inserting the catheter through the femoral artery. Femoral artery access may increase postoperative complications and require longer recovery times. When we place the catheter through the wrist, it can reduce risk of bleeding complications. Patients are typically able to recover while sitting up in a chair immediately after the procedure and go home within a few hours. They also may experience less discomfort after the procedure than with the more traditional femoral artery approach, which requires a few hours of uncomfortable bedrest lying flat after the procedure.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 8.5 million people in the United States have PAD including 12-20 percent of people older than age 60.
Northwest Medical Center Interim Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Schomburg said, “We are pleased to bring another ‘first’ to our patients. We consistently work with the physicians on staff at our hospitals to bring new FDA-approved technologies and procedures that will help improve the patient experience, patient safety, and recovery time.”
Dr. Berman is a Distinguished Fellow of the Society for Vascular Surgery and a member of the Executive Council of the Vascular Quality Initiative, the Society’s Patient Safety Organization. He has been practicing vascular surgery at Northwest Medical Center since 1994.
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