A surgical team at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, led by Dr. Mina Guerges, is the first in South Queens to successfully implant the FDA-approved Esprit™ BTK Everolimus Eluting Resorbable Scaffold System (Esprit BTK System).
The Esprit™ BTK System, a first-of-its-kind dissolvable stent and breakthrough innovation, was created to treat patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) below the knee (BTK).
Chronic limb-threatening ischemia below the knee is a severe form of peripheral artery disease (PAD). It occurs when the arteries supplying blood to the lower leg and feet become blocked or narrowed. Over time, these blockages or the restriction of blood can lead to damage or the death of skin, nerves, or muscles in the affected limb, increasing the risk of complications such as amputation.
Chronic limb-threatening ischemia currently affects more than 20 million people living in the United States. Those at risk for developing CLTI include people who:
- Use tobacco products
- Have high cholesterol
- Have hypertension or high blood pressure
- Have diabetes
- Have a family history of PAD or CLTI
Jamaica Hospital serves a patient population with a prevalence of CLTI. The hospital’s vascular division has achieved a high level of success in caring for these patients by using a combination of traditional approaches along with new techniques and technologies to improve outcomes.
As the first hospital in South Queens to utilize the Esprit™ BTK System, Jamaica Hospital offers patients in the area an effective treatment option to prevent limb amputation. The device works by keeping arteries open and delivering a drug (Everolimus) to support vessel healing before completely dissolving.
Studies have shown that implanting the device offers greater benefits than previously used methods, such as balloon angioplasty, to prevent possible amputation. The surgery to implant the Esprit™ BTK System is minimally invasive, meaning small incisions are used. Additional benefits include shorter recovery times, the potential for better long-term outcomes, and a reduced risk of amputation.
Vascular surgeons at Jamaica Hospital are optimistic that leveraging this new technology will help manage chronic limb-threatening ischemia below the knee and greatly improve limb salvage rates among patients. The hospital aims to ensure patients in the community have access to effective, innovative, and high-quality healthcare.