New Type Of Closed Chest Stent Like Surgery For Torn Aortas

Tears in the aorta are more times than not fatal, but for the few that make it to the operating room table there is new hope. An new national study being conducted out by a vascular surgeon and out of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital is examining a non invasive stent type of procedure/surgery to graft torn aortas.

“This pathology specific endovascular device has the potential to eliminate the need for highly invasive, open chest surgery to repair one of the most deadly aortic diseases in the U.S.,” said Dr. Lombardi, assistant professor of Surgery, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. “In Philadelphia alone, up to 60 patients per year are treated for aortic dissection with emergency procedures, which have numerous risks, high mortalities and long recovery periods. This device could help limit our need for invasive procedures and save many lives.”

Over 10,000 people suffer from dissected aortas every year in the US. If you remember the 70’s US show Three’s Company, you remember John Ritter and his death- torn/ruptured aorta. it is very sudden and many don’t have any symptoms until too late. Let’s hope that the study proves to be in the green!

via Science Daily