Florida Hospital Fish Memorial is first in area to perform drug-coated balloon angioplasty

ORANGE CITY, Fla. - Nov. 12, 2014 - PRLog -- Florida Hospital Fish Memorial vascular surgeon Dr. Ryan Messiner made history on October 22 when he performed the first drug-coated balloon procedure of its kind in Central Florida.

“We had a patient with severe peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a disease in which plaque builds up in the arteries that carry blood to the head, organs and extremities, creating blockages,” said Messiner. “She previously had a procedure to improve blood flow to her foot which had a non-healing wound of her toe, as well as suffering from continuous pain in her extremity. Three months ago, we were able to re-canalize a totally occluded [blocked] blood vessel, but it had unfortunately closed again and she was in danger of losing her leg. By using this new technology, she now has the best possible chance at healing this wound and keeping her leg.”

The treatment, known as the LUTONIX® 035 Drug Coated Balloon PTA Catheter, has just recently been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat PAD.

The procedure, which helps remove plaque in the arteries, takes about an hour – the same time as a regular angioplasty – but the results may last up to five times longer, according to studies.

Millions of Americans suffer from PAD in the legs and if left untreated, PAD can lead to a severe blockage in the arteries of the legs or feet, and eventually, even amputation. In fact, recent data shows that the majority of all leg and foot amputations in the U.S. are due to vascular diseases such as PAD.

“Successful treatment of PAD requires improving the blood flow, which is something the LUTONIX® 035 DCB can help with,” said Messiner. “This new vascular-disease fighting tool uniquely combines an angioplasty balloon coated with a low dose of Paclitaxel to improve blood flow in blocked vessels above the knee.”

Messiner and his team at the Florida Hospital Fish Memorial cardiac catheterization lab specialize in treating diseases like PAD, as well as a variety of other diseases that involve the vascular system, which includes the veins and arteries, and supplies all the major organs of the body with life-sustaining blood. This new procedure gives the vascular specialists at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial like Messiner a powerful new tool in their arsenal to help patients improve their quality of life.

“The vascular team at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial changes our patients’ lives every single day,” says Ed Noseworthy, Florida Hospital Fish Memorial CEO. “This new procedure will allow them to continue to provide world-class care to our patients in Orange City, Deltona, DeBary and beyond.”

About Florida Hospital Fish Memorial
Florida Hospital Fish Memorial is a member of Adventist Health System, a faith-based health care organization with 45 hospital campuses and nearly 8,300 licensed beds in 10 states. With 175-beds, Florida Hospital Fish Memorial provides exceptional, patient-focused care to the DeBary, Deltona, Orange City and Sanford communities. Florida Hospital Fish Memorial is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Photo Caption:
Florida Hospital Fish Memorial vascular surgeon Dr. Ryan Messiner performed the first drug-coated balloon procedure of its kind in Central Florida on October 22. Using the LUTONIX® 035 Drug Coated Balloon PTA Catheter, Messiner opens a blocked blood vessel with assistance from Michelle Keith, registered cardiovascular invasive specialist.