A team of physicians at the Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute recently became the first in Connecticut to repair a life-threatening aortic aneurysm using a new device as part of a clinical trial approved by the Food & Drug Administration.
Dr. Thomas Divinagracia is the chief of vascular surgery at Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Hartford Hospital.
Q. This procedure and device are minimally invasive. How does it all work?
A. The device system is modular and consists of two key components — a main aortic component and a side branch component. The main component has an inner portal, through which the modular side branch component is inserted. An optional Aortic Extender can also be used, which is attached to the end of the main component. These components are each in the shape of a tube and are folded tightly onto a catheter (a flexible, hollow tube) and, under fluoroscopy, are placed in the aorta through an artery in the leg. Each study device component is then released from its catheter, the catheters are withdrawn and the study device components remain.
Q. How does this trial device compare to traditional open surgeries to treat aortic aneurysms?
A. Because it’s still a device being studied, we can’t make direct comparisons as of yet, but the traditional modalities available do involve open surgery and require at least a small chest incision. The recovery time after a procedure like that is typically days to weeks. The study device, by comparison and at least at the present time, can be significantly less.
Q. Tell us about the first case using the trial device? How is the patient doing?
A. The patient is doing great. He went through the procedure without any issues and was discharged in less than 48 hours later. He’s back to his life and has been seen in follow-up and is doing very well.
Q. The Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Hartford Hospital is one of only three places in New England taking part in this clinical trial. How were you selected?
A. Hartford Hospital was selected based on our extensive experience treating thoracic pathology and clinical research capabilities. This experience and these capabilities stem primarily from a long-standing and robust collaboration between our divisions of cardiac surgery, radiology and general cardiology.
It’s important to mention that, as of this writing, the use of this study device is not yet available to the public. In order to qualify to receive the device, patients must consent to be part of the clinical trial and must meet strict inclusion and exclusion criteria.
AAAneurysm Outreach, the nation’s only 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of abdominal aortic aneurysm, is hosting a free AAA screening at Hartford Hospital on Oct. 1. If you are over 60 with at least two risk factors of AAA or a man over 55 with a family history of heart disease and at least one risk factor, call 888.871.3801 for an appointment.
If an aneurysm is located, it can be repaired. Hartford Hospital was recently ranked as a high-performing organization for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair by U.S. News & World Report.
To learn more, call 1.855.HHC.HERE (1.855.442.4373)