Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) involves atherosclerosis mainly in the extremities, especially in the legs and feet that lead to ischemia. Untreated, PAD can progress to critical limb ischemia (CLI), also called chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), which will lead to foot or leg amputation. The mortality rate for these CLI amputees is 70% within three years. There is currently an epidemic of PAD and CLI in the U.S. The majority of patients are defined by health disparities concentrated in the Black, Latino, Native American populations in both rural and low-income urban areas. A large number of PAD patients have other comorbities, with diabetes being one a primary issue.

A diabetic foot ulcer that does not heal due to low blood supply from peripheral artery disease (PAD), and the before and after interventional angiograms of the patient's revascularization treatment. Images courtesy of Foluso Fakorede, MD

ACC calls for better management of peripheral artery disease in diabetic patients

PAD in patients with diabetes is common and associated with an increased risk of several adverse events. A new guidance from the American College of Cardiology reviewed this topic at length, identifying areas where care needs to improve.

The Medtronic Liberant thrombectomy system.

New Medtronic thrombectomy system used commercially for first time

The new device uses an advanced algorithm to regulate aspiration and conserve blood. Ajit Rao, MD, a vascular surgeon with The Mount Sinai Hospital, performed the historic procedure.

merger acquisition M&A business

Stem cell company acquires 2 cardiology practices, calling them ‘the first of many’

Hemostemix believes its new cell therapy platform can help treat peripheral artery disease, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy and other serious medical conditions. The company plans on scooping up multiple practices to conduct additional research and increase the use of its platform. 

Sahil Parikh, MD, director of endovascular services, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, associate professor of medicine at Columbia University, and a program director for the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) meeting, explains the growing focus in interventional cardiology on endovascular procedures for stroke, pulmonary embolism, peripheral artery disease and renal denervation.

Interventional cardiology showing more interest in endovascular procedures

Sahil Parikh, MD, said it was clear at TCT 2025 that the specialty is getting more and more involved with endovascular procedures for stroke, pulmonary embolism and peripheral artery disease.

Shockwave Medical Javelin Peripheral IVL Catheter

Shockwave Medical’s IVL catheter for peripheral lesions linked to positive 1-year data

The new findings, presented during a late-breaking presentation, focused on 110 PAD patients treated with Shockwave Medical's Javelin Peripheral IVL Catheter.

The Artero peripheral electric IVL (E-IVL) system is about to enter its US FDA IDE trial.

FastWave lines up principal investigators for pivotal intravascular lithotripsy trial

"The key question isn't just whether a device works, but whether it makes procedures more efficient and provides physicians with a more predictable tool for treating patients with complex arterial disease," explained co-principal investigator Venita Chandra, MD, clinical professor of surgery at Stanford Health Care.

Kimberly Campbell, RN, ANP-BC, nurse practitioner, Saint Luke's Cardiovascular Consultants, explains how her health system took a heart team approach in its wound care transition program for peripheral artery disease (PAD) and critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients that lowered their amputation rate my more than 50%.

St. Luke’s cuts PAD amputation rate in half with heart team-led wound transition program

Kimberly Campbell, RN, nurse practitioner, Saint Luke's Cardiovascular Consultants, explains how her health system took a heart team approach toward peripheral artery disease. 

 

Shockwave Medical Javelin Peripheral IVL Catheter

Shockwave Medical launches new IVL catheter for challenging lesions in Europe

The balloon-free catheter, which already had a successful launch in the United States, has been associated with positive outcomes and the ability to reach certain lesions more accurately than balloon-based IVL platforms.