| |
|
 |
1/19/2005
Cardiologist Frank T. Bunch, M.D. of Cardiology Associates was a featured presenter at the recent New Cardiovascular Horizons Management of the Diabetic Foot and Wound Healing annual conference in New Orleans.
Being invited to speak at the conference was an honor. It is considered to be one of the top five conferences for cardiovascular disease. Approximately 1,500 physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals attend each year.
Dr. Bunch gave a presentation on infrapopliteal disease for critical limb ischemia and cold laser therapy. In layman’s terms, his topic addressed treatments for restoring blood flow to limbs that might otherwise be amputated. Critical Limb Ischemia is the most severe manifestation of peripheral arterial disease resulting in rest pain, ischemic ulcers or even gangrene. Almost 2 million people in the United States and Europe suffer from this debilitating disease, resulting in nearly 200,000 amputations every year. In fact, statistics show that every hour, nine people with diabetes must have a toe, foot or leg amputated to save their lives.
Dr. Bunch is using the Spectranetics’ excimer, or "cool" laser procedure called CLiRpath (Cool Laser Revascularization for Peripheral Artery Therapy), to help clear total obstructions of leg arteries, common in some people with diabetes and severe peripheral arterial disease.
The CLiRpath procedure involves two components: the CVX-300 laser unit and small CLiRpath fiberoptic catheters. The laser unit produces an intense light beam that is delivered through the catheters to a small area of tissue with great precision. The CLiRpath catheter, which is made of tiny, flexible, silica fibers - each about the width of a human hair - delivers short bursts of "cool" ultraviolet energy directly to the obstruction in the artery, vaporizing the blockage.
At this time, Dr. Bunch is the only cardiologist in the South Alabama region using the breakthrough laser therapy. He performs the procedure at Thomas Hospital in Fairhope and at Springhill Medical Center in Mobile.
Cardiology Associates is a 25-physician group providing coordinated and integrated comprehensive heart services including pediatric cardiology, adult clinical, invasive and interventional cardiology, preventive cardiology, electrophysiology and the treatment of heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, cholesterol and lipid disorders. Cardiology Associates is committed to improving access to cardiovascular care, decreasing mortality due to heart disease and enhancing the quality of life for all residents in South Alabama as well as the Mississippi and Florida Gulf Coasts. Cardiology Associates operates offices in Mobile, Fairhope, and Foley, AL and outreach clinics in Atmore, Bay Minette, Chatom, Jackson, Lillian, and Orange Beach, AL. For more information about Cardiology Associates, visit our website at www.cardassoc.com or call (251) 943-4100 or (251) 990-9500.
|
|
