Removable stent technology introduced at a Dubai hospital offers another minimally invasive treatment option for severe below-the-knee artery disease.
DUBAI: Removable stent technology designed to restore blood flow without leaving a permanent implant has been introduced at Medcare Hospital Al Safa for patients with severely narrowed or blocked arteries below the knee.
The hospital says it is the first in Dubai to use SPUR Retrievable Scaffold Therapy for these complex cases. The minimally invasive treatment temporarily supports an affected artery during the procedure before the scaffold is completely removed.
Below-the-knee artery disease can become particularly serious when reduced circulation prevents wounds on the foot from healing. Patients with diabetes can face additional risks because poor circulation, infection and tissue damage may combine to threaten the affected limb.
The new treatment is intended to help doctors restore blood flow while avoiding a permanent metal implant.
During conventional balloon angioplasty, a small balloon is used to reopen a narrowed or blocked artery. However, some vessels can recoil after the balloon is removed. SPUR is designed to provide temporary support during treatment before being retrieved at the end of the procedure.
This “leave-nothing-behind” approach could be useful in small and heavily diseased arteries because no permanent scaffold remains inside the vessel. It may also preserve options should another intervention become necessary.
Medcare said its first patient treated with the technology was a 71-year-old Emirati woman experiencing tissue loss associated with severely reduced blood flow to her foot. Doctors reopened the narrowed artery and used the retrievable scaffold before removing it at the end of the procedure.
According to the hospital, follow-up imaging showed improved blood flow without immediate procedural complications. The patient’s wound subsequently continued to improve and the limb was preserved.
Dr Saher Arour, Consultant Vascular Surgeon at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, stressed that restoring circulation is only one part of limb preservation.
“Saving a limb is never about one device or one procedure alone,” he said, adding that wound care, infection control, diabetes management and close follow-up are also required.
The introduction of removable stent technology is particularly relevant to patients facing diabetic foot complications and peripheral arterial disease. In advanced cases, restoring sufficient circulation can support wound healing and form part of a broader strategy to reduce the risk of tissue loss and amputation.
The technology does not, however, make limb preservation certain. Outcomes depend on the severity of arterial disease, wound condition, infection, underlying health and appropriate multidisciplinary care.
Impact to expect
The treatment could expand the options available in Dubai for complex below-the-knee artery disease, particularly when doctors want temporary vessel support without leaving a permanent implant.
