Pictured from left to right are Brantley Yeager, cath lab director; Theresa Kaiser, cath lab technologist; Dr. Kalyan Veerina, CIS interventional cardiologist; and Chris Breaux, Medtronic rep.

OPELOUSAS- Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) is one of the first in Louisiana to use the Abre™ Venous Self-Expanding Stent System by Medtronic to treat patients with deep venous obstruction in the legs. The first procedure was performed on April 27 by Dr. Kalyan Veerina, interventional cardiologist at CIS, at Opelousas General Health System.

Deep venous obstruction occurs when the veins in the deep venous system become obstructed, blocked or compressed causing restricted blood flow to the heart. This stent is intended for permanent implant and utilizes an open-cell design and offers a balance of strength, flexibility and fatigue resistance.

“We are excited to be one of the first to offer this exciting new therapy to help patients restore their movement, blood flow, and quality of life,” said Dr. Veerina. “We can now treat patients with even the most challenging deep venous lesions.”

Globally, it is estimated that approximately 24 million people are affected by deep venous obstruction, yet less than one percent of the population is treated. Symptoms of this disease can include leg swelling, skin ulcers, leg ulcers and pain. If left untreated, severe complications can occur, such as blood clots that migrate to the lungs (pulmonary embolism), a clot in the leg called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or the formation of fibrotic tissue or scarring caused by a chronic DVT (post thrombotic syndrome).

To schedule a visit with a CIS cardiologist, click below.

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