Dr. Khatib First to Offer New Technology for Patients with PAD

We are proud to announce that First Coast Cardiovascular Institute is the first practice in Northeast Florida to offer patients with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) a new treatment method from Shockwave Medical called IntraVascular Lithotripsy (IVL).

IVL is an innovative therapy that uses a balloon catheter to break up calcified plaque in the arteries. This new technology is significant for patients with PAD as the disease is characterized by plaque buildup in the arteries. PAD blocks blood flow to the extremities, which can lead to pain, mobility impairments, and even amputation in extreme cases.

The traditional treatment method for patients with PAD is a balloon angioplasty, which uses an inflated balloon to expand the blocked artery in hopes of restoring blood flow. Unfortunately, however, this treatment has a failure rate of approximately 50%. Physicians are hopeful that IVL will improve recovery outcomes for these patients.

“We are thrilled to be the first in Northeast Florida to offer this innovative technology,” says Dr. Yazan Khatib, President of First Coast Cardiovascular Institute, “PAD is a common cardiovascular disease and can be challenging to treat. IVL gives us another option for our patients and poses a lower risk of damage or injury to the arteries.”