First PAD patient in Jacksonville treated with PTAB therapy at HCA FL Memorial

Jacksonville, FL — HCA Florida Memorial Hospital has treated the first patient in Jacksonville with Complex Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) with a minimally invasive Percutaneous Transmural Arterial Bypass (PTAB) treatment therapy. PTAB treats a PAD patient with long lesions in their superficial femoral artery (SFA) with an innovative technology treatment option using stent grafts that bypass the arterial blockage in the leg allowing oxygenated blood to return to the lower leg. This creates a complete bypass around the patient’s diseased area and is shifting the paradigm for patients with PAD.

“Our hospital is committed to providing the latest treatment options for our patients with PAD.  Current open surgical bypass is the standard of care, but patients face complication risks and prolonged recovery,” said interventional cardiologist Vaqar Ali, MD, at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital. “We are excited to offer PTAB using this new technology bypass therapy, which can help us provide an alternative treatment option for these patients. It enhances their quality of life with a quicker recovery period plus it’s less invasive.”

Recently approved by the FDA in June 2023, the new PTAB system is designed specifically for patients with severe PAD in the SFA - who have long obstructions or lesions, for those with previously failed endovascular procedures, and those who may not be good candidates for surgical bypass.

What is PTAB?

The new PTAB treatment therapy system is a minimally invasive approach that utilizes endovascular techniques and the patient’s own vasculature to create a bypass around the diseased area. During the PTAB, Dr. Ali implants stent grafts that will pass through the arterial wall, into the adjacent vein, and then back into the artery. The bypass created with the stent grafts re-directs blood around the blockage to increase flow.

What is PAD?

PAD is a circulatory problem caused by blockages in the arteries, which can lead to a reduction in the flow of oxygenated blood to your body, particularly in your lower limbs. If left untreated, PAD can cause pain, loss of mobility, sores on your legs, feet or toes, and in severe cases, amputation.

In the United States, approximately 8.5 million adults have lower extremity PAD. Risk factors that can accelerate PAD include diabetes, smoking, advanced age and high cholesterol.

“This bypass treatment therapy is a game changer for patients with complex PAD,” added Dr. Ali.