The Christ Hospital Health Network Offers First-of-Its-Kind Treatment for Heart Disease

Greater Cincinnati hospital now using shockwaves to treat calcified coronary plaque

The Christ Hospital Health Network is pleased to announce a new treatment option for patients with severely calcified coronary artery disease living in the Greater Cincinnati region. The new technology is a novel application of lithotripsy, an approach that uses sonic pressure waves to safely break up calcium, similar to the treatment currently used to treat kidney stones. It is now available to treat calcium in the coronary arteries that can complicate stenting procedures and the long-term outcomes after coronary stent implantation.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women1. Each year, more than 600,000 people in the United States die of heart disease. As people with heart disease, specifically coronary artery disease, grow older and their disease progresses, plaque in the arteries evolves into calcium deposits, which can narrow the artery. Physicians often use stents to open an artery, and of the approximately one million patients that undergo a stent procedure each year, around 30% have problematic calcium that increases their risk for adverse events2.

Calcium makes the artery rigid and more difficult to open with conventional treatments, including balloons, which attempt to crack the calcium when inflated to high pressure, and atherectomy, which drills through the calcium to open the artery3. While atherectomy has been available for several decades, its use remains low, as it can result in complications for patients who are undergoing stent procedures. The new shockwave technology, also known as intravascular lithotripsy or IVL, allows physicians to fracture the problematic calcium - using sonic pressure waves - so that the artery can be safely and easily expanded, and blood flow is restored with the placement of a stent and without unnecessary complications3.

“The heart and vascular team at The Christ Hospital is steadfast in our commitment to give our patients access to the latest cardiovascular innovations to treat heart disease,” said Dean Kereiakes, MD, FACC, FSCAI, President of The Christ Hospital Heart and Vascular Institute and National Principle Investigator for the Disrupt CAD III pivotal clinical trial that led to FDA approval of coronary IVL. “It is exciting to offer a safer, more reliable and effective treatment to some of our most complex patient cases. Again, The Christ Hospital leads with innovation and technology to improve the safety of coronary stent procedures for the benefit of the Greater Cincinnati community.”

The first three patients in the U.S. to receive this newly FDA approved technology were treated on February 18, 2021 at The Christ Hospital by Dr Robert Riley, Director of Complex Coronary Intervention and Site Principle Investigator for the Disrupt CAD III trial. “We were fortunate to be some of the original investigators for IVL technology which improves the safety and efficacy of challenging stenting procedures. We have gained valuable experience with this technology over the past two years which helps us provide the most up-to-date care for patients,” Dr Riley said.

The Heart and Vascular Institute has become a national destination for sub-specialty patient care and clinical research trials. Dr Kereiakes and his team are committed to continued development of subspecialized Centers of Excellence, each led by a nationally acclaimed and networked physician champion who is supported by appropriate staff and infrastructure. Each Center of Excellence is matrixed with the Lindner Center for Research and Education to provide access to leading-edge technology, novel drugs and devices, all of which clearly sets The Christ Hospital apart.

For important safety information regarding this new treatment, please visit Discover.Shockwavemedical.com/ifu .

To download an animation of the device, please visit https://shockwavemedicalinc.box.com/s/ati0ysy2tjq6cpwk0zfaihl0avfpcyo1 .

For more information about The Christ Hospital, visit TheChristHospital.com.

About The Christ Hospital Health Network

The Christ Hospital Health Network is an acute care hospital locate in Mt. Auburn with a remote hospital location in Liberty Township, five ambulatory outpatient centers and dozens of offices conveniently located throughout the region. More than 1,300 talented physicians and more than 6,000 dedicated team members support the Network. Its mission is to improve the health of the community and to create patient value by providing exceptional outcomes and the finest experiences, all in an affordable way. The Network has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 hospital in the Cincinnati Region and awarded Healthgrades “America’s 50 Best Hospitals” for being in the top 1% in the nation for providing the highest clinical quality year over year. It is also a Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award recipient, which recognizes top-performing healthcare organizations that achieve the 95th percentile or above of performance in patient experience. The Christ Hospital is among a select number of hospitals in the nation to be awarded Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence. For more than 130 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves.

https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm 2 Généreux P, et al. JACC 2014; 63(18);1845-54 3 Hill J., Kereiakes D., et al. IVL for Severely Calcified Coronary Artery Disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Dec, 76 (22) 2635–2646. https://www.jacc.org/doi/full/10.1016/j.jacc.2020.09.603

###