For Immediate Release

Vascular Surgeon Performs a First in Oklahoma

Ardmore—A Mercy Memorial vascular surgeon, Britt Morris, D.O., made Oklahoma history recently by being the first in the state to place LifeStent, a newly approved FDA stent for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Approximately eight million Americans are diagnosed with the disease every year. Peripheral arterial disease results from plaque that builds up in the blood vessels outside the heart, but mainly the arteries supplying the legs and feet. The plaque buildup narrows or blocks the vessels and reduces the amount of blood and oxygen delivered to the leg muscles and feet.

Unlike previous stents used for the disease, LifeStent is a self-expanding stent, made of flexible mesh that expands when deployed to prop open a diseased vessel. LifeStent has proven to allow a significant increase in blood flow. A common location for stent placement in PAD patients is in the superficial femoral artery (SFA), a blood vessel on the inside of the leg that extends just above the knee. A blockage in the SFA is common in patients who suffer from atherosclerosis of the lower extremities.

“Patients with atherosclerosis typically experience severe pain due to poor blood flow in the leg muscles,” said Dr. Morris. “The self-expanding design of LifeStent will re-open the restricted vessel, allowing the blood to flow freely through the vessel and alleviating most of the pain in the patient’s leg.”

Lower extremity peripheral vascular disease affects approximately 3 percent of people younger than age 60 and 20 percent of people older than age 70.

If you have questions regarding peripheral vascular disease, call Dr. Morris at Ardmore Surgical Associates (580) 223-3216.

Mercy Memorial Health Center is a member of Mercy Health System of Oklahoma and the Sisters of Mercy Health System.

Press release dated: April 16, 2009