Miles Sugar, MD, of Willis Knighton Vascular Surgery, has performed the state’s first successful percutaneous transmural bypass (PTAB) with the DETOUR™ System, a new treatment option for patients with complex peripheral artery disease (PAD). The procedure was performed at Willis Knighton North.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition that occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the legs or arms narrow or become blocked, causing pain or discomfort in the affected limb.  It affects between eight and 12 million Americans and is the leading cause of limb loss.

Existing treatment options include placing stents through the blockage or open bypass surgery to reroute blood flow around the blockage. The DETOUR™ System, by Endologix, uses a minimally invasive approach to create a bypass instead of a surgical approach. It enables vascular surgeons to guide a thin catheter through the femoral artery, precisely navigate the device around the blockage utilizing the femoral vein and deploy the stent. The DETOUR™ procedure’s alternate route using the femoral vein allows for more targeted intervention to restore blood flow to the leg.

“This technology provides an additional tool to re-establish blood flow for patients with threatened legs who may not be candidates for existing procedures,” Dr. Sugar said. “We are excited to offer the latest treatment option for our patients with PAD, one that is minimally invasive and offers a faster recovery time.”