Colorado Vascular Associates is proud to highlight a recent clinical milestone at the Colorado Springs Cardiology Heart & Vascular Ambulatory Surgery Center, where Dr. Danielle C. Smith successfully treated a patient with critical limb threatening ischemia (CLTI), performing only the third SEISMIQ™ Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) case in an ASC in the state of Colorado.
The patient was a 75-year-old woman with bilateral lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD). Dr. Smith had previously performed a successful revascularization on the patient’s left leg, with a toe amputation that healed well. Surveillance imaging confirmed that the prior left-sided interventions remained open and functioning, but revealed severely reduced pressures on the right side, consistent with critical limb ischemia. The patient presented with right lower extremity rest pain, meaning reduced blood flow was causing pain even at rest, a hallmark sign of advanced PAD.
A right lower extremity angiogram confirmed severe PAD affecting the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries. Dr. Smith used intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) throughout to guide precise vessel sizing and optimize the result in real time, a technique that gives physicians a detailed, live view inside the vessel to ensure the most accurate and effective treatment possible.
Dr. Smith treated the right superficial femoral artery using the SEISMIQ IVL system to address the calcified disease, followed by drug-coated balloon angioplasty with a Ranger balloon to further restore the vessel and deliver targeted therapy to the treated segment. Final IVUS imaging confirmed no residual stenosis and an excellent technical result.
The procedure was technically successful, with brisk blood flow restored to the right lower extremity. For a patient with CLTI, restoring circulation is critical not only for relieving pain but also for preserving the limb and improving long-term quality of life.
“This case is a great example of the complex, high-stakes vascular work our team takes on every day. This patient had already lost part of her left foot to this disease, and restoring circulation to her right leg was critical for preserving her limb and her quality of life. Using the most advanced tools available, combined with real-time IVUS guidance throughout, allowed us to achieve an excellent result for a patient who truly needed it,” said Dr. Danielle Smith of Colorado Vascular Associates.
Colorado Vascular Associates is committed to providing state-of-the-art vascular care to patients across Colorado. With a highly experienced team of vascular specialists, the practice offers personalized treatment plans that focus on enhancing patient health and quality of life, from minimally invasive endovascular procedures to advanced vascular surgery. Colorado Vascular Associates operates in partnership with Colorado Springs Cardiology at the Heart & Vascular Ambulatory Surgery Center.
