South Central Only Hospital in the State to Participate in Surveillance Study
South Central Regional Medical Center and the Endovascular Center of Laurel have been approved for participation in a surveillance study utilizing the new Angiogard technology that is used in the carotid angioplasty procedure. The study will include 1,500 people in 112 centers across the United States. The Laurel study is the only one in the state of Mississippi and Dr. Vinay Kumar and South Central Regional Medical Center were the first in the United States to perform this procedure utilizing the new technology.
Carotid angioplasty is a procedure in which a wire is run through a blocked artery, a balloon is inserted and then a stent is placed in the artery to allow blood to flow to the brain. Dr. Kumar said, “The surveillance study includes the use of the new Angiogard technology which is used in conjunction with the carotid angioplasty procedure to prevent clots from breaking off and causing a stroke.” According to Dr. Kumar, “The Angiogard technology is best described as an umbrella that is placed in the artery before the carotid angioplasty procedure is performed to catch any debris that may break away during the procedure. The “umbrella-like” technology is then removed after the procedure is complete.”
Patients who are candidates to participate in the surveillance study are high-risk patients including:
- those who have had a recent heart attack
- those who can’t be put to sleep
- those who have lung disease
- those who have one side of the carotid artery completely blocked and one side diseased
- those who have had previous surgery and had a blockage return.
For more information about participation in the surveillance study, call the Endovascular Center of Laurel at 426-2008.
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