Valley Hospital becomes first hospital in New Jersey to use minimally-invasive approach to treat PAD

The Valley Hospital today announced it was the first hospital in New Jersey to use a recently approved device to offer a minimally-invasive approach to the treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the upper leg, a serious and common condition associated with an increased risk for heart attack and stroke.

The procedure uses drug-coated balloons, a new type of medical device developed to treat PAD in the upper legs once medical management has failed. Vascular surgeons Joshua Bernheim, M.D.; Daniel Char, M.D., Director of Vascular Surgery; and Mitul S. Patel, M.D., successfully performed the first procedures at The Valley Hospital this month using the IN.PACT Admiral drug-coated balloon from Medtronic.

Recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, drug-coated balloons are a breakthrough therapy for the treatment of PAD in the upper leg, specifically that affecting arteries in the thigh and behind the knee. The drug-coated balloons offer a new tactic to treat PAD after medical management has failed.

The IN.PACT balloon has shown the best results ever reported in the treatment of PAD in the upper legs, according to Medtronic, which manufactures the device. The balloons also reduce the need for repeat procedures, which are more common with other types of interventional procedures for this condition.

"The new drug-coated balloons represent a real game changer for patients," said Daniel Char, M.D., Director of Vascular Surgery at Valley. "Other minimally invasive procedures have been associated with the need for repeat procedures within 6 to 12 months because the plaque build-up returns to the vessel wall. The medication that coats this balloon and is left behind following the procedure reduces this risk for repeat procedures."

Affecting an estimated eight to 12 million people in the U.S., PAD is a debilitating disease that occurs when arteries become narrowed or blocked by plaque build-up, restricting blood flow. PAD commonly affects arteries in the upper legs and can cause recurrent and painful muscle cramping in the thigh and/or upper calf. The pain can be described as dull, causing a heaviness or tightness in the muscles, but often will stop when the person is at rest. Experiencing pain, even while at rest or while sleeping, is a sign of a more severe disease. If not properly treated, PAD can lead to amputation and life-threatening complications, and is associated with a four- to five-times higher risk for heart attack or stroke.

Drug-coated balloons are designed to help restore blood flow by reopening blocked arteries and delivering a medication to the artery wall that clinical studies have shown helps keep the artery open longer than other available therapies. During the procedure, an inflated balloon pushes the plaque away to create a channel for blood flow. The medication on the balloon surface is absorbed into the artery wall. The balloon is then removed with only the medication left behind.