Some days I’m amazed at the new medical technology that comes down the pike. This is one such day. What I’m talking about is the
“Silverhawk” technology that seems to be very effective in taking care of the painful and debilitating PAD (Peripheral Arterial Disease) condition, which is a fancy way of describing arteries clogged with plaque buildup.
There is medication of course, angioplasty and the bypass surgery to help alleviate the problem but it looks like some good old scrubbing and shaving at the plaque creates wonders too.
Angioplasty, for example, involves a small balloon inflated inside the artery pushing the built up plaque aside and making more room for the blood to pass through.
The Silverhawk technology, on the other hand, actually cuts and sucks the the plaque out of the artery. I think there is a big difference between the two methods.
Here is a good site to have a look at the very well drawn illustrations showing how Silverhawk works:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/checkup-2005/pad-sept.html
George Washington Hospital’s Dr. Richard Neville, a specialist in the procedure, said the following about this fantastic technology:
“The Silverhawk is not for every person. Fortunately, the tests to assess your leg pain are simple and painless. A key advantage of the Silverhawk procedure is that it reduces total recovery time to several days or less with only one night in the hospital. It’s simply a less invasive and more comfortable treatment option.” Music to my ears.