| New Chest Aneurysm Repair Performed | ||
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Deborah Heart and Lung Center surgeons recently performed the first endovascular thoracic stent graft procedure on a chest aneurysm in South Jersey, making Deborah only the third hospital in the Delaware Valley to offer this procedure. Thoracic (or chest) aneurysms are traditionally repaired with a major operation involving a cut to open the chest cavity and replacing the affected area with a graft. The traditional procedure requires partial heart bypass and significant recovery time. The new endovascular procedure is done through the skin with a thin catheter threaded through the femoral artery with a special plastic-coated metal-frame stent inserted through the tube. The plastic-coating prevents leakage from outside the stent. The new procedure dramatically cuts the patient’s recovery time as well as time spent in intensive care. As a less-invasive procedure it also carries less risk to the patient. |
The procedure at Deborah was made possible through a collaborative approach between cardiothoracic surgeons and vascular specialists. It cannot be used for all patients, but in the future we anticipate that other problems in the aorta will be treated, including ruptures inside the wall of the aorta (dissection). We are very excited about the fact that Deborah is able to provide the newest technology to the patients in the region. Working collaboratively adds safety to the procedure and bringing different specialties together follows nationally recommended standards. This is part of a comprehensive approach to aneurysmal aortic disease. No doubt increasing numbers of patients will become candidates for such procedures. In addition to reducing recovery time, this approach reduces some of the most serious risks of traditional open operations. |
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