Advanced Technology for Treating Blocked Arteries at Covenant Health’s Parkwest Medical Center

At Covenant Health’s Parkwest Medical Center we offer state of the art heart care for our community. Our cardiac team is using new tools that help us treat blocked arteries with more accuracy and safety than ever before. Two technologies, Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) and Shockwave Intravascular Lithotripsy (Shockwave IVL), are helping us innovate heart care and improve outcomes for patients.  

Seeing the Heart More Clearly with IVUS 

One of the biggest challenges in treating heart blockages is knowing exactly what is happening inside the artery. Traditional angiogram imaging gives doctors a two-dimensional picture, but it doesn’t always show the full story.  

That’s why Parkwest cardiologists have been using IVUS on nearly every coronary intervention over the last three years. IVUS is a tiny ultrasound probe that goes inside the coronary artery and gives a clear, 360‑degree view.  

“IVUS allows me to see inside the artery to know the best treatment strategy for each individual patient,” explained Jeremy Brooks, MD, interventional cardiologist at Covenant Health Parkwest.  

With IVUS, our team can measure the diameter of the artery and the length of the blockage with precision. This allows us to place stents more accurately and confirm that the artery is fully open before the procedure ends. This leads to safer care and better results. 

Treating Hard‑to‑Open Arteries with Shockwave IVL Technology 

Some patients have arteries that are hardened with calcium. This is common as people age or live with heart disease for many years. Calcium constricts the artery and can make it difficult for a stent to fully expand the artery, increasing the risk of restenosis. 

To solve this problem, Parkwest has been using Shockwave IVL for the last 5 years. Shockwave is a special balloon that emits sound waves to fracture the calcium in the wall of the coronary artery without damaging the vessel. This allows our cardiologists to safely open the blockage and fully expand the stent in your coronary artery.  

“Shockwave coronary lithotripsy has been a game changer in interventional cardiology,” said Dr. Brooks. “Previously, if we were treating a calcified blockage, our only tool was essentially a drill. Shockwave IVL has a much lower risk of complications and allows quick treatment and optimal results for patients.” 

This technology makes treatment possible for patients whose arteries are so hardened with calcium that traditional balloons or stents could not be used optimally. By gently cracking and softening the calcium, Shockwave IVL allows physicians to open arteries safely that were once considered high risk. 

Better Tools Mean Better Outcomes 

By combining IVUS and Shockwave IVL, our heart team can treat complex blockages with greater confidence. These tools help reduce complications, lower the chance of repeat procedures and support faster recovery. 

Patients benefit from: 

• More accurate stent placement 

• Better long‑term stent performance 

• Lower risk of future heart problems 

• Safer treatment for difficult blockages 

• Care that is tailored to their exact needs 

“IVUS and Shockwave IVL enable us to tailor our coronary artery treatments to each individual so that each patient gets the best care possible,” said Dr. Brooks. 

Expert Care, Close to Home 

Covenant Health is committed to bringing the best technology and people together to care for our community. Our physicians, nurses and care teams work every day to provide safe, reliable and compassionate treatment for every patient who walks through our doors. 

We continue to invest in tools that help us diagnose faster, treat more precisely and support better healing. Connect with a Covenant Health interventional cardiologist like Dr. Brooks today or find another Covenant Health physician close to home.