Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare has begun offering the Eluvia Drug-Eluting Vascular Stent, a stent designed to restore blood flow in the peripheral arteries above the knee, including the superficial femoral artery and proximal popliteal artery.

The Eluvia Drug-Eluting Vascular Stent was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Methodist officials say it is the first hospital in the greater Memphis area to offer Eluvia.

The Eluvia Stent features a unique drug-polymer combination intended to facilitate sustained release of the drug (paclitaxel) that can prevent narrowing (restenosis) of the vessel, often the cause of pain and disability for patients diagnosed with peripheral artery disease (PAD).

PAD affects approximately 8.5 million Americans over the age of 40 - the most common symptom is muscle cramping in the hips, thighs or calves while walking, climbing stairs or exercising. The prevalence of the disease increases with age for both men and women, and if an individual's PAD is caused by a buildup of plaques in blood vessels, they may be at risk of developing critical limb ischemia, stroke or heart attack, so proper treatment can play a vital role in managing the disease.