Peripheral vascular disease (PVD), sometimes referred to as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), is a condition which most commonly affects arteries in the legs.  PVD occurs when harmful plaque buildup causes a narrowing of the artery, eventually constricting normal blood flow to the body’s extremities.

 PVD can be extremely painful, debilitating and can eventually lead to amputation and death. If a patient has symptoms associated with PVD, several tests can be performed to make a diagnosis. An ankle brachial index (ABI) is used to measure the rate of blood pressure in the ankle to that in the arm. A lower pressure in the ankle may indicate PVD. This is a simple, non-invasive test, which can be done in the doctor’s office.  Another non-invasive test is called a Doppler Ultrasound, which uses sound waves to measure blood flow in a vessel and can determine if there is a blockage.

 To make a final assessment, the patient undergoes angiography. This minimally invasive procedure involves injecting a dye into the arteries and reviewing the area by X-Ray. Typically, the physician can see the blockage on the angiogram images.

General facts about PVD 

·          PVD affects over 12 million people in the U.S.

·          Up to 5% of all men and 2.5% of all women 60 years or older have symptoms of PVD

·          Patients with PVD face a 10-year drop in life expectancy

·          28% of PVD patients have Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

·          The prevalence of PVD is 20% higher in the diabetic population

·          Patients with PVD have approximately the same 5-year mortality rate as those patients with breast and colorectal cancer.

·          86% of patients who were given an ABI test said that it took less than 15 minutes.

PVD Risk Factors

Researchers have identified several risk factors that can be attributed to the development of PVD.  These include:

 PVD Symptoms

PVD symptoms can include, but are not limited to the following:

·          Claudication: dull, cramping pain in the hips, thighs,

calves or buttocks

·          Numbness or tingling in the leg, foot or toes

·          Changes in skin temperature: cold to the touch

·          Changes in skin color: bluish or reddish coloration

·          Impotence

·          Sores or infections that do not heal

·          Weakness in legs or arms

Historical PVD Treatment

 Before the arrival of plaque excision, treatments for PVD included angioplasty, stenting and open bypass surgery, which is an invasive procedure, requiring a large incision and a hospital stay.  Both angioplasty and stenting clear a channel in the artery for blood flow by pushing plaque up against the artery walls.  However, patients often return within six months to have the procedure repeated because plaque has crept back into the artery and blocked it again.

·          150,000 PVD sufferers undergo limb amputation

·          40% of amputees die within 2 years of amputation

 SilverHawk™ Plaque Excision System

The SilverHawk Plaque Excision System is a unique device, which uses a tiny rotating blade the size of a grain of rice to shave away large quantities of plaque from inside the artery.  As it is excised, the plaque collects in the tip of the device and then is removed from the patient.  Removing harmful plaque from the artery restores normal blood flow to the legs and can return patients to an active lifestyle.

 Since receiving clearance from the FDA, the SilverHawk device has been used in thousands of peripheral vascular procedures in Europe and the United States.  In several hospitals across the U.S., plaque excision has successfully saved the legs of patients who were scheduled for limb amputation after other peripheral interventions failed.

 HOW IT WORKS

 1) The device, which is delivered through a catheter, is inserted into the patient’s groin through a small puncture site and is moved through the artery to the site of the blockage.

 2) A tiny rotating blade is activated and the physician advances the SilverHawk through the vessel, shaving plaque from the artery walls as it moves forward.  

3) The plaque is collected in the tip of the catheter and then completely removed from the patient’s body.

Click Here to watch Animation Video

Plaque Excision Facts

 About FoxHollow

 The SilverHawk System was developed by FoxHollow Technologies, a medical device company located in Redwood City, CA.  For additional information on SilverHawk or FoxHollow Technologies, please visit  www.foxhollowtech.com.

For Patient Inquiries

Contact Dr. Mandviwala's office at Northwest Heart center to make an appointment. 281-351-6250