Groundbreaking Therapy for Clogged Arteries Sparks Controversy in Cardiology Field

Bruce Barton was once faced with the possibility of losing a toe, foot or part of his leg due to multiple blocked arteries. He had undergone eight failed attempts at clearing the blockages until he sought help from The Miriam Hospital. It was there that he was introduced to Cardiac Shockwave Therapy, a minimally invasive procedure that utilizes high frequency ultrasonic waves to crack and fissure calcium deposits in the arteries.

According to Dr. Peter Soukas, director of peripheral vascular interventional laboratory at The Miriam Hospital, Cardiac Shockwave Therapy is one of the most important breakthroughs in the cardiovascular space in the past decade. Calcium blockages are a major obstacle in treating arterial blockages and this innovative research has led to an FDA approved treatment for calcium blockages in coronary and leg arteries.

Soukas explains that the procedure is designed to prep the vessels before following up with a drug coated balloon or stent for extended durability of the outcome. The Miriam Hospital has been involved in clinical trials for Cardiac Shockwave Therapy since 2017 and has seen positive results in over 500 cases. Since receiving the treatment, Barton has reported being able to walk three miles rather than just 100 yards.