If peripheral vascular disease (PAD) is not treated, it can progress toward nearly complete blockage of the arteries that supply the lower extremity with blood and result in critical limb ischemia (CLI). People suffering with the condition experience severe pain, can have gangrene, and have a drastically reduced quality of life. A new device from LimFlow, a company based in Paris, France received the European CE mark to introduce a system that can offer a new option for otherwise untreatable patients.
The LimFlow system is used to link the tibial vein and a diseased tibial artery of the leg so that blood can bypass the arterial occlusion and reach the foot. It relies on two catheters that utilize ultrasound to accurately line up next to each other. Once positioned, a guidewire from the arterial side is used to penetrate into the vein and to then place a covered stent that bridges the vessels. The stent is quite long, continuing toward the foot to provide the necessary support for all the new blood flow.
