Laredo Medical Center Performs Its First Orbital Atherectomy for the Treatment of Complex Coronary Artery Disease
5/24/2021
Laredo Medical Center recently reached a significant milestone after performing its first orbital atherectomy, an advanced life-saving procedure to clear calcified coronary artery blockages.
The procedure was performed on April 12 by Dr. Ricardo J.G. Cigarroa II, who will be the primary physician at LMC to offer this interventional treatment for patients with calcific coronary artery disease.
“Laredo Medical Center is at the leading edge of innovative cardiac care, and selected this modern technology based on studies of its efficacy, safety and lasting results in treating moderately to severely calcified coronary lesions,” said Jorge Leal, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer. “The coronary orbital atherectomy system provides our patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention procedures with an evidence-based option approved by the FDA, producing better outcomes.”
Dr. Cigarroa II, a Laredo native who recently returned to his hometown to join the medical staff at Laredo Medical Center, is pleased to provide the community with one of the latest advancements in the treatment of coronary artery disease.
“Some blockages in the heart arteries have become more complicated to fix than previously due to a number of factors. One of the most challenging issues we face today in cardiology is calcium build up in coronary artery blockages, said Dr. Cigarroa II.
He added, “The calcium can be so hard that it can prevent full opening of the artery with stents. Atherectomy decreases the calcium build up by sanding it away, allowing the best possibility to return full flood flow to the heart by completely opening arteries and providing a more durable result for patients.”
The new technology uses a guide wire with a 1.25-millimeter diamond-coated crown that sands away calcium in coronary arteries to reduce arterial calcium that can cause complications when treating Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), a life-threatening condition and leading cause of death affecting 68 million Americans. Arterial calcium is a common occurrence and can lead to significant complications, with moderate to severe arterial calcium present in nearly 40 percent of patients undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention.
For more information on this procedure and other cardiac services at Laredo Medical Center, visit LaredoMedical.com or call the Marketing and Business Development Office at (956) 796-3223.
Dr. Ricardo J.G. Cigarroa II is pictured with the cath lab team at Laredo Medical Center.
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