St. Elizabeth Leads in New Stent Technology

St. Elizabeth Healthcare is the first hospital system in Greater Cincinnati to use a dissolving stent technology called Absorb, which is used to treat heart disease.

Stents are used to open clogged heart arteries to restore blood flow to the heart after heart attack or diagnosis of life-threatening blockages. This newly approved stent, manufactured by Abbott, starts breaking down after about six months and begins to dissolve, allowing the artery to eventually return to its natural, flexible state. Traditional stents are made of metal and remain permanently in the artery. The dissolving stent allows for more treatment options if necessary in the future.

“Our Heart & Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth is constantly exploring and implementing the very best techniques and products in an attempt to reduce the effects of cardiovascular disease for our patients, our friends and our family here in the Greater Cincinnati community,” says Dr. Kevin Miller, an interventional cardiologist at St. Elizabeth.

Dr. Miller explains that the new dissolving stent is a part of “improving our arsenal of how we take care of patients.”

Although the decision to use the dissolving stent will be made on a patient-by-patient basis, Dr. Miller says he expects that someday as many as 60 to 80 percent of patients will be treated with the newer stent. “Nothing is left behind, and the artery really does have a chance to heal.” 

“St. Elizabeth being the first in the region to offer this technology following FDA approval emphasizes our role as a leader in providing state-of-the-art, high quality cardiovascular services to our patients in Northern Kentucky and the entire Greater Cincinnati area.

“This is just one more example of our commitment to the population that we serve, to always strive to always be on the leading edge of new and exciting technology,” Dr. Miller says. “It is also another way we are working toward the goal we set in 2015 of working with the community to reduce heart-related deaths in Northern Kentucky by 25 percent by the year 2025.” 

For more information about St. Elizabeth Healthcare, visit their website at www.stelizabeth.com.