Woodland Heights Medical Center First in Area to Offer New Catheter for Coronary Blockage

3/5/2024

Lufkin, TX – Woodland Heights Medical Center is the first facility in Lufkin to utilize a new catheter for patients with peripheral arterial disease who have had complete or near-complete blockage in a leg artery for a long period of time, commonly called chronic total occlusion or CTO.

Interventional cardiologist Dr. Erica Fidone utilized the technology which differentiates from other catheters as it usually allows the physician to complete the entire procedure with just one visit to the catheterization lab, limiting the risk for the patient.

Typically these lesions with CTO are difficult to intervene on as they are highly calcified and heavily diseased vessels; therefore, the success rate of opening a CTO can be low. This can lead to worsening of peripheral arterial disease, the need for surgery (which can be high-risk) and the potential for amputation if left unaddressed.

“This catheter is the first of its kind to increase the likelihood of re-opening a CTO with minimal damage to the vessel.” states Dr. Fidone. “It is certainly a great tool to have in my tool box as physician who is passionate about treating patients with complex peripheral arterial disease with the ultimate goal of preventing amputation.

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Interventional Cardiologist Erica Fidone, M.D., FACC, FSCAI and Cardiologist Justin Price, M.D., FACC, RPVI, stand with the Woodland Heights Cardiac Catheterization Lab team.

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