Aortic Aneurysm Repair Device Tested at the Texas Heart Institute Approved by FDA

The AneuRx Stent-Graft is currently being evaluated in clinical trials at the Texas Heart Institute at St Luke's Episcopal Hospital for the repair of aortic aneurysms in the thoracic (chest) area.

The AneuRx Aortic Aneurysm Stent-Graft, evaluated in clinical trials by cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons at the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital and engineered by Medtronic, was recently approved by the FDA for commercial use.

Aortic aneurysms are a life-threatening condition caused by a weakening of the vascular wall of the aorta. They usually occur either in the abdominal (stomach) or thoracic (chest) areas. As a result of this weakening, the wall "bulges-out" and may burst. A rupture of the aorta most often leads to death in a matter of hours or even minutes.

During this non-surgical procedure performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, the AneuRx Stent-Graft is inserted into the patient through a one-inch incision in the groin. The tubular device is threaded through the artery using a catheter and is positioned so that when it is deployed, it covers, or "excludes," the aneurysm. This provides a channel through which blood can flow, therefore relieving pressure against the stretched-out and weakened artery wall. Available in a variety of sizes and lengths, the device can be used in both large and small arteries for aneurysms and blockages almost anywhere in the body. Patients can be discharged as soon as 24 hours after the device is implanted. They experience fewer complications, less discomfort and a rapid return to their previous lifestyles.

"In the future, I hope to see the size of the delivery catheter reduced so that this procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis," said Dr. Zvonimir Krajcer, interventional cardiologist, and co-director of the peripheral vascular disease program at the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, and a principal investigator during the trials. "It would then become the standard treatment method for all types of aortic aneurysms. This not only saves time and money for patients and medical facilities, but also saves many more lives."

Currently Dr. Krajcer is using this treatment for abdominal aneurysms about four times a week, and is conducting clinical trials to evaluate its use for thoracic aneurysms.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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