Vascular surgeon Dr. Joseph Cuppari (center) after completing the first WavelinQ 4F EndoAVF System procedure at McLaren Macomb.
MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich.—McLaren Macomb, the 288-bed healthcare facility serving all of Macomb County, has expanded its surgical capabilities with the addition of the WavelinQ 4F EndoAVF System, a recent innovation in endovascular arteriovenous fistula creation technology. The technology allows for the creation of an AV fistula in either the ulnar artery and ulnar vein or the radial artery and radial vein for patients with end-stage renal disease who are surviving on dialysis.
This procedure and technology provides surgeons with a minimally invasive AV fistula creation alternative to open surgery. McLaren Macomb is one of few hospitals in the region able to perform this procedure.
“Patients with end-stage renal disease have few options and even fewer minimally invasive approaches when their treatment requires the need of an AV fistula,” said Dr. Joseph Cuppari, a vascular surgeon at McLaren Macomb. “Being able to provide this as an option for patients who are already in a compromised position can benefit their condition by increasing our chances of successfully creating a usable fistula.”
The WavelinQ 4F EndoAVF System, with its slim profile, increases the AV fistula location options and allows for additional access points in the wrist for surgeons while also reducing the risks of scarring, arm disfigurement or neurological compromise for the patient when compared to the traditional open surgical approach.
An AV fistula is the connection of an artery and vein (usually in the arm) made by a vascular surgeon to increase blood pressure in order to strengthen a weakened vein and support its growth. Without the procedure, the vein would not be able to support the needles from a dialysis unit and collapse.
End-stage renal disease is the last stage of chronic kidney disease in which the kidney is functioning at just 10 to 15 percent, requiring dialysis and/or a transplant. There are more than 400,000 people in the United States living with ESRD.
For more information on surgical capabilities and technology at McLaren Macomb, visit mclaren.org/macomb.
About McLaren Macomb
McLaren Macomb is a 288-bed acute care hospital located in Mount Clemens, Mich. More than 400 physicians and nearly 2,000 employees work at McLaren Macomb making it one of Macomb County’s top employers. McLaren Macomb provides a full range of services, including cancer and cardiovascular care. As Macomb County’s first verified trauma center, the hospital operates the busiest emergency department in Macomb County and is also an accredited chest pain center. McLaren Macomb has a rich history of providing high quality, compassionate health care and holds a strong position in the community it serves. To learn more, visit mclaren.org/macomb or follow our blog mclaren.org/macombblog.
About McLaren Health Care
McLaren Health Care, headquartered in Grand Blanc, Michigan, is a fully integrated health network committed to quality, evidence-based patient care and cost efficiency. The McLaren system includes 14 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, a 490-member employed primary and specialty care physician network, commercial and Medicaid HMOs covering more than 620,000 lives in Michigan and Indiana, home health and hospice providers, retail medical equipment showrooms, pharmacy services, and a wholly owned medical malpractice insurance company. McLaren operates Michigan’s largest network of cancer centers and providers, anchored by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, one of only 49 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the U.S. McLaren has 26,000 employees and more than 85,500 network providers. Its operations are housed in more than 350 facilities serving Michigan and Indiana.