CIS is First in Area to Use Lightning Bolt™ 7 System to Remove Blood Clots in the Legs

Pictured from left to right are Taylor McBride (RN); Chad Thompson (RN); Kevin Latiolais R.T. (R) RCIS; Theresa Cannon R.T. (R); Dr. Kalyan Veerina; Lauren Hebert with Penumbra; and Layla Davis R.T. (R).

Dr. Kalyan Veerina, interventional cardiologist at Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) in Opelousas, is the first in the area to use the Lightning Bolt™ 7 system by Penumbra, Inc. to extract blood clots quickly and efficiently from peripheral arteries. The procedure was performed at Opelousas General Health System.

These types of blood clots oftentimes require invasive open surgery to remove, or in severe cases, they can result in amputation. However, the minimally-invasive Lightning Bolt™ 7 system uses a computer-aided clot detection technology that modulates aspiration, which is designed to speed up clot removal while leaving healthy blood circulating.

Lightning Bolt 7, which was cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and became available in March, addresses conditions such as acute limb ischemia (ALI), hibernating thrombus and visceral occlusions. It is part of Penumbra’s Indigo System with Lightning portfolio, which are the only computer-aided mechanical thrombectomy systems currently available in the U.S. Prior to the availability of Lightning Bolt 7, recent data with the Indigo System have shown excellent 30-day limb salvage rates in more than 98% of patients, short procedure times with an average of 22 minutes and low 30-day mortality at 3%.

For risks and more information please see: https://www.penumbrainc.com/pdf/brief-summaries-risk-statement.

About Cardiovascular Institute of the South
Founded by Dr. Craig Walker in 1983, Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) is a world-leader in preventing, detecting and treating cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease. CIS offers a comprehensive heart and vascular program with expert physicians trained in many specialties, including internal medicine, nuclear cardiology, electrophysiology, lipid management, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, valve disease, venous disease and interventional procedures. CIS has earned international acclaim as a pioneer of research, development and education, as well as an innovator in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease. With a dedicated team of more than 1,150 team members, CIS provides comprehensive cardiovascular care at 21 locations across Louisiana and Mississippi, with 11 telemedicine programs. CIS has also been recognized by Modern Healthcare as a Best Place to Work in Healthcare for four years in a row. CIS remains at the forefront of technology, providing the highest-quality, compassionate care. This mission has guided the institute for 40 years of excellence. CIS is an affiliate of Cardiovascular Logistics. For more information about CIS, call 1-800-425-2565 or visit www.cardio.com.