Sound Waves Help Break Patient’s Heart Blockage

Norris Taylor was visiting his daughter when he started experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath.

After arriving by ambulance to Franciscan Health Dyer, tests revealed Norris had a 70 percent blockage in his left main coronary artery, as well as a 99 percent blockage in his left circumflex vessel, the vessel that feeds the back side of the heart.

The medical team at Franciscan Health Dyer performed a balloon pump procedure on him as a temporary fix until he could be transferred to Franciscan Health Crown Point for additional heart procedures.

“The team met and decided due to multiple risk factors, an open-heart procedure was not in Mr. Taylor’s best interest,” said Michael Nicholas, DO, an interventional cardiologist at Franciscan Physician Network Cardiology Dyer.

Just a few months prior, in February 2021, a new product, the Shockwave C2 catheter, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that uses sound waves to break-up severe blockage in the coronary arteries. The minimally invasive procedure is called coronary intravascular lithotripsy.

“Franciscan is always looking for ways to bring new cutting-edge technology to our patients,” Dr. Nicholas said. “In this case, we wanted Mr. Taylor to be the first lithotripsy patient, because we knew this was his best option for a positive outcome.”

Dr. Nicholas says the procedure uses sound waves to cause micro fractures in the blockage.

“The sound waves pass through normal tissue without causing any damage or trauma to the artery,” said Dr. Nicholas. He says once the blockage is broken up, a stent is placed inside the artery. “The stent is treated with medication to prevent a recurring blockage and acts as scaffolding to keep the artery open.”

The procedure is minimally invasive and requires only a small incision in the patient’s groin, which is how the Shockwave C2 catheter is delivered to the heart. Dr. Nicholas says in certain instances, this could be an outpatient procedure and can serve as a safer alternative to a large open-heart surgery with less risk of complications.

“I was a little nervous when I was told I would be the first patient,” said Norris, a Merrillville, Indiana, resident who is a retired charter bus driver of 32 years. “But I figured I was making history for someone else to get the procedure in the future.

“The surgical team and doctor were great and talked me through all the steps,” he added. “I wasn’t in any pain afterwards, and I’m doing physical therapy now to get stronger.”