The AngioJet catheter is a familiar item in the cardiologist's toolbox, and physicians are readily adapting its use in treating peripheral vascular disease, a condition also commonly plaguing many coronary patients. Dr. Gary Ansel, an interventional cardiologist at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, has been treating patients with acute peripheral vascular disease using the AngioJet System. "Traditionally, many of these patients would be referred to surgery for treatment of acute peripheral thrombus where the risk of death is 7% to 25%. We've found the AngioJet System to be highly effective in removing thrombus in vessels from shoulders to toes. It is less invasive, there is less trauma to the patient and our success rate has been very high. In our multi-center study, we were able to remove almost the entire clot in 70% of cases and we had a positive response in 92% of our cases. Patients see a return of limb function almost immediately and we've been able to convert 96% of initially threatened limbs (that is, limbs at risk for amputation) to viable status by the time of discharge from the hospital.

As doctors, we are looking for anything to help prevent blood clots from traveling downstream in the circulatory system during procedures that open blocked arteries. Using the AngioJet System, we can ensure significant clot removal and greatly reduce the risk of distal migration of this clot material."