Via Christi has announced its participation in Abbott’s TECTONIC Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) trial. The first patient in this nationwide trial was successfully enrolled and treated at St. Francis by interventional cardiologist Bassem Chehab, MD.
The study is designed to evaluate Abbott’s Coronary IVL System to treat severe calcification in coronary arteries prior to stenting. CAD is the most common heart disease in the U.S., with over 20 million adults affected. This disease also remains the single most frequent cause of death in America. CAD develops when plaque builds up in vessels, blocking blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart to the point where vessel intervention is required.
Currently, physicians often use several therapy approaches to clear calcified arterial blockages, including scoring or cutting the artery wall to break up calcified deposits (cutting balloons) or using a catheter with a rotating blade or laser to remove plaque from the artery (atherectomy technology). Abbott's investigational Coronary IVL System is a newer treatment for calcified coronary arteries that uses high-energy sound pressure waves to treat arterial calcium blockages, potentially allowing for vessel expansion and better stent placement.
"Participating in the TECTONIC CAD IVL trial explores a promising new technology that could significantly improve outcomes for patients with severe coronary artery calcification," said Dr. Chehab, who is Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Service Line for Via Christi. “By participating in the potential of intravascular lithotripsy, we’re helping take a vital step towards enhancing patient care and offering more effective treatment options for this challenging condition.”
Chehab added, “Being able to treat the first patient ever in a novel and groundbreaking technology solidifies the global and national trust in the expertise of Via Christi as a leader in advanced cardiac care regionally and nationally.”
