HJBR Jan/Feb 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  JAN / FEB 2024 41 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com part of a continued effort to build a broader, more robust research program that will offer an array of interventional clinical trials. Mary Bird Perkins enrolled the first two DLBCL patients in the world for this groundbreaking trial. Several other phase 1 trials are now open as well. DLBCL is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that is common, but highly aggressive. From 2017-2020, there were 357 patients diag- nosed with the disease in Louisiana. Phase 1 clinical trials are the earliest stage of testing for new therapies in humans, often involv- ing a small number of participants. They require a level of expertise and resources only available at the highest-performing cancer centers, offer patients additional options for treatment, and help raise the standard of cancer care in a region when they are offered. Later phase clinical trials, encompassing phases 2 and 3, expand to larger groups of patients and aim to confirm the safety and efficacy of a treat- ment, often against the existing standard of care. Mary Bird Perkins has offered phase 2 and 3 clinical trials for a number of years; however, its clinical trials program began advancing rapidly when Victor Lin, MD, PhD, joined the organization as its medical director for clinical research to over- see its trials program and expand its offerings. Lin, a physician-scientist, said that the staff and care requirements, among other complexities of phase 1 studies, make them impossible to initi- ate without appropriate support. “Phase 1 trials are new and exciting, but they require meticulous attention to detail and vigi- lance to appropriately safeguard our patients,” Lin explained. “With support and generosity from the local community, Mary Bird Perkins has made a substantial investment in the infrastructure required to undertake these complex protocols. We are committed to bringing more access to high-quality clinical trials to the Gulf South region, with a particular emphasis on ensuring that the patients we enroll will more accurately reflect our diverse community. The data we gather contrib- utes to global research efforts, ultimately bene- fiting individuals worldwide.” Every patient receiving care at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center undergoes evaluation for poten- tial clinical trial participation. According to Jonas Fontenot, PhD, MBA, president and CEO, Mary Bird Perkins, the focus is on delivering leading- edge technologies and treatment options that are tailored to the needs of cancer patients, including phase 1 trials. For more information on Mary Bird Perkins’ clin- ical research program, call (225) 215-1375. CIS Using FreedomFlow System to Treat PAD Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) is the first in the country to use the FreedomFlow Orbital Atherectomy Platform to treat peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the legs. MDs Pradeep Nair, McCall Walker, and Craig Walker used the new technology Oct. 19 at Terrebonne General Health. This system by Cardio Flow, Inc. was FDA- cleared in late September. The FreedomFlow platform is designed with a modern mechanism to clear plaque blockages in the arteries of the legs. This proprietary, cath- eter-based design leverages the physics of angu- lar momentum, creating a spiral geometry that puts five diamond-coated spheres in simultane- ous contact with the vessel wall, whether advanc- ing or retracting. A diamond-coated tip also helps ease the driveshaft through tight blockages. This unique approach gives physicians a highly efficient, effective, and flexible way to treat com- plex PAD in a wide range of vessel diameters — from 2 mm in the ankle to 8 mm in the hip — and greater versatility in treating multiple arteries and multiple blockages in the same ves- sel, all with a single device. The simplicity of the FreedomFlow platform also offers quick and simple device setup, no capital equipment, no lubricant, and reduced inventory needs. It also provides faster run times, consistent treatment outcomes, and a nearly flat learning curve for phy- sicians, making it an ideal choice for today’s hos- pitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and office- based labs. “Peripheral arterial blockages are extremely common, especially in our patients with heart disease,” explained Nair. “This new technology allows us to more effectively treat a wide range of blockages from the ankle to the hip to save limbs, and ultimately our patients’ lives and the quality of those lives.” Acadian Ambulance Responds to Crashes Due to Severe Fog Acadian Ambulance responded to multiple crashes in Louisiana and Texas as a result of severe foggy conditions. Fog combined with smoke from marsh fires created super fog con- ditions, extremely reducing visibility. On Oct. 21, along Highway 73 in Jefferson County, Texas, multiple separate major vehicle Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) is the first in the country to use the FreedomFlow Orbital Atherectomy Platform to treat peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the legs. MDs Pradeep Nair, McCall Walker, and Craig Walker used the new technology Oct. 19 at Terrebonne General Health. This system by Cardio Flow, Inc. was FDA-cleared in late September.