Waterbury Hospital Offering

Laser Treatment For PAD

WATERBURY — Waterbury Hospital recently announced it is the first hospital in the region offering a new minimally invasive treatment option for patients suffering from peripheral artery disease (PAD). In an effort to provide cutting-edge technology and the highest quality patient care, Waterbury Hospital is using the Spectranetics excimer laser ablation system to restore blood flow in leg arteries.

Peripheral artery disease is a serious condition that causes blood vessels in the legs, and sometimes arms, to become restricted or blocked; this may occur suddenly if an embolism or clot develops rapidly in the restricted blood vessels. PAD is progressive and often causes gangrene or tissue death of the affected area if not properly treated.

PAD affects approximately 12 million people in the United States. Early warning signs may include dull or cramping pain in the buttocks, hips, thighs, or calf muscles or numbness or tingling in the leg, foot, or toes.

Approximately 75 percent of those suffering go undiagnosed. Many do not seek medical attention as the symptoms are often overlooked as a typical part of the aging process. Those suffering from PAD are at increased risk for heart disease, aortic aneurysms, and stroke, therefore, it is important to recognize early symptoms and seek treatment.

Jonathan Hasson, MD, a vascular surgeon at Waterbury Hospital, is the only surgeon in the area performing the procedure.

 “Nearly 160,000 amputations happen every year that could have been prevented. Amputation is a complicated procedure that changes a person’s life forever,” Dr Hasson said. “Patients should not be subjected to this life-altering procedure when a minimally invasive treatment option exists to restore blood flow to the legs and feet.”

“The Spectranetics laser ablation system is unlike any other interventional method available. It is quick and effective. Patients are typically back on their feet and pain-free in two days or less,” he added.

The Spectranetics excimer or “cool” laser produces pulsed bursts of ultraviolet (UV) light energy that vaporize blockages in the arteries into tiny particles that are easily absorbed into the blood stream. This energy is transmitted along flexible glass fibers encased in catheters, which can be passed through arteries and veins.

The UV light energy is then focused on the blockages that need to be treated. By restoring blood flow, limbs can be saved, and patients’ overall well-being improved.

Steven E. Schneider, MD, vice president of medical affairs at Waterbury Hospital, agreed that the ablation system ushers in a new era in the treatment of PAD.

“The technology today is outstanding and this new treatment option will profoundly impact how we can treat PAD,” he said. “We certainly feel privileged to have a talented surgeon at our hospital like Jonathan Hasson who is skilled in this procedure.”