MDNews - Cleveland-Akron-Canton

pre-surgical images. And, because the hybrid OR is a fully functional OR, an endovascular procedure can immediately be converted into an open procedure if needed. The result is a highly efficient, optimal environment for patients in need of stent-graft placement to repair aneurysms in the chest and abdomen, treatment for peripheral artery disease, catheter- based heart valve repair and implantation, and ICD lead removal. "Our hybrid OR also has everything that's needed for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) surgery," says Dr. Wright. "Part of what we have at our disposal is the resources of the best and the most experienced heart program in the country, and that's Cleveland Clinic. So we're looking to the Clinic for guidance in initiating a TAVR program. Dr. Lahorra, of course, will be instrumental in this." New Technology-based Treatments In the meantime, two new treatments have been added to Akron General's heart care options: a subcutaneous implant- able cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) to monitor the heart and treat for sudden cardiac arrest, and drug-coated balloon (DCB) percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) to open narrowed or blocked arteries in the leg above the knee. The S-ICD is a battery-powered device — smaller than a deck of cards — implanted below the left armpit just under the skin. Unlike traditional ICDs and their leads, the S-ICD leaves the heart and blood vessels untouched, so there's less risk of infection and less risk if the device needs to be removed. Manufactured by Boston Scientific, the S-ICD is the first of its kind in the world. It received FDA approval in September 2012. Jeffery Courson, DO, implanted his first S-ICD at Akron General in December 2014. "The S-ICD offers potential advantages to individuals with compromised vasculature or increased risk for infection," he PHOTO © SMITHBERGER PHOTOGRAPHY, NORTH CANTON, OH A Cleveland Clinic cardiothoracic surgeon, Joseph Lahorra, MD, is now seeing patients as part of the comprehensive team at Akron General Heart & Vascular Center. Dr. Lahorra specializes in coronary artery bypass, valve repair and replacement, and lung resection, with a focus on minimally invasive approaches. PHOTO © SMITHBERGER PHOTOGRAPHY, NORTH CANTON, OH The S-ICD is a battery-powered device implanted below the left armpit just under the skin. Unlike traditional ICDs and their leads, the S-ICD leaves the heart and blood vessels untouched, so there's less risk of infection and less risk if the device needs to be removed. said. "It may also offer some benefits to younger and healthier patients by avoiding some of the long-term risks of leads placed within the heart." DCB PTA was FDA-approved in June 2014 for use in the femoropopliteal arteries. Dr. Wright performed his first case in January at Akron General. "Instead of just doing an angioplasty, you inflate the balloon and leave it opposed to the surface of the vessel for 30–60 seconds to dispense the drug Paclitaxel from the surface of the balloon into the wall of the vessel," he explains. "This is primarily aimed at the superficial femoral artery because we do tend to see a significant number of restenosis there. And stents do not tend to work quite as well in the superficial femoral artery as in other locations, such as the coronary arteries." Dr. Wright points out that preliminary studies have indicated drug-eluding balloons have better results than non-drug-eluding balloons, and that they may be better than stents alone. "It's early data, and time will tell," he says. "Right now, we're just excited to be the first hospital in Akron to offer this and other innovative treatment options to our patients." For more information about Akron General Heart & Vascular Center, visit akrongeneral.org/heart. To refer a patient, call 1-800-HEART50 (1-800-432-7850). ■ 2 0 1 5 M A R C H /A P R I L ■ M D N E W S . CO M ■ MD NEWS Cleveland/Akron/Canton | 1 5

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