The Freeman Hospital in Newcastle has successfully implanted Esprit BTK Everolimus Eluting Resorbable Scaffold System, a breakthrough innovation for people with peripheral artery disease (PAD) below the knee (BTK).
In the UK, one in five adults over 60 live with some degree of PAD.1 Until now, PAD and its severe form chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI) has been managed through lifestyle changes and medicine to help reduce the symptoms.2 Surgical treatment options have been limited.
The Esprit BTK System, which was approved for use in Europe in August, is a minimally invasive treatment option available to patients at select hospitals across the UK, designed to keep arteries open and deliver a drug called everolimus to support vessel healing prior to completely dissolving over time.
Developed by healthcare company Abbott, it is the first dissolvable stent of its kind for use below the knee in the UK. Made of material similar to dissolving stitches, the stent is implanted through a catheter-based procedure via a small incision in the leg. Once the blockage is open, the Esprit BTK system helps heal the vessel and provide support until the vessel can remain open on its own.
The first procedure was carried out by James McCaslin, consultant vascular surgeon at the Freeman Hospital and president of the British Society of Endovascular Therapy. He said: “This new stent provides a fantastic option for the treatment of artery disease below the knee, which often threatens the life of the lower leg.
“It is inserted through a small hole in the groin – commonly known as keyhole surgery - and is designed in a way to prevent re-blockage of the artery, which will hopefully reduce the need for additional procedures and the risk of long-term complications such as amputation. I’m very pleased to be able to offer this to our patients in the north east.”
PAD is highly prevalent, yet many people have never heard of the condition. Approximately 50 million people are living with PAD in Europe, roughly twice the number affected in the United States.3 This painful disease occurs when arteries become clogged with plaque, preventing blood flow and oxygen from reaching the lower legs and feet. These blocked vessels often lead to severe pain, non-healing wounds, and in some cases, limb amputation, significantly impairing the ability to walk and quality of life.
The technology is being rolled out across various centres across the UK and will include St Thomas' Hospital in London, The Freeman Hospital in Newcastle and Glenfield Hospital in Leicester.
“We’re proud to introduce the Esprit BTK System to patients in the UK, we believe this technology represents a real breakthrough in vascular care,” said Jonathan Wood, Regional Director, Abbott Vascular, North Europe. “We’ve designed this technology to not only open and support blood vessels as they heal, but to also deliver a drug that helps prevent future plaque build-up – which can exacerbate issues for the patient. Once it’s done its job, the device is naturally reabsorbed by the body, leaving nothing behind.
“At Abbott, we’re committed to advancing care for people with vascular disease. Our goal is simple: help patients live healthier, fuller lives. Research shows that 9 in 10 people4 treated with Esprit BTK don’t need to return to hospital for further procedures – and that’s exactly the kind of outcome we strive for.”
References:
1. NICE (2020) Peripheral arterial disease: diagnosis and management. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg147/chapter/Context
2. NHS. (2023, March 20). Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) - Treatment. NHS UK. Retrieved September 17, 2025, from https://www.nhs.uk
3. Dattani R, Sayers R. Peripheral artery disease: current diagnosis and management. Br J Cardiol. 2020;27(1). https://bjcardio.co.uk/2020/03/peripheral-artery-disease-current-diagnosis-and-management/
4. DeRubertis, B.G. et al (2025). Drug-Eluting Resorbable Scaffold Versus Balloon Angioplasty for Below-the-Knee Peripheral Artery Disease: 2-Year Results From the LIFE-BTK Trial. Circulation, 152, doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.125.075080.
