Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville recently became the first hospital in North Georgia to implant a patient with a new device called the Esprit BTK.
“This device represents a step forward in the care of our patients, supporting healing while reducing the risk of long-term complications,” said James Reeves, MD, a vascular surgeon with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Vascular Center who performed the first procedure at NGMC Gainesville. “We’re excited to offer our patients the latest technological advancements to treat conditions that might otherwise leave patients without their lower leg.”
More than 20 million Americans have some form of PAD. Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is a severe form of PAD that occurs when arteries become clogged with plaque. This prevents blood and oxygen from reaching the lower leg and foot. People living with CLTI experience extreme pain and open wounds that don’t heal. Some patients must have their leg or foot amputated.
Only about 10% of people who have PAD know they have it. The disease disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic communities, with nearly 1-in-3 Black adults and 1-in-5 Hispanic adults developing PAD.
“We make a needle puncture in the patient’s leg, insert a catheter and move the tiny Esprit BTK device through the catheter to the blockage in the artery,” said Dr. Reeves. “The device then pushes the artery open and pumps out a medicine that helps the vessel heal until it is strong enough to stay open on its own. Then the device simply dissolves, which is pretty amazing.”
(Pictured: Tiny stent that is delivered to a patient’s lower leg arteries via a tiny catheter.)