NEWS
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bobbie Boyd, Director of Public Relations
& Community Outreach
Advanced Cardiac Specialists
Cell Phone: (602) 570-7069 E-mail:
bobbie.boyd@acs-im.com
NEW FDA APPROVED SENSOR TRANSMITS CRITICAL
INFORMATION ON
STENT POSITION FROM INSIDE THE BODY
Surgeon is First in Western U.S. to Use Sensor
Technology with
Aorto-uno-iliac Repair of Life-threatening Abdominal
Aortic Aneurysm
Mesa,
Arizona (May 24, 2006) - An aortic aneurysm is a diseased, weakened and bulging
section in the wall of the main artery (aorta), which carries blood from the
heart through the abdomen, then branches into two iliac arteries that supply
blood to the legs. Approximately
200,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysms
(AAA) every year. Untreated, an
abdominal aortic aneurysm can rupture, resulting in death within minutes due to
internal bleeding.
April 26, Marc L.
Eckhauser, M.D., vascular & endovascular surgeon with Advanced Cardiac
Specialists, was the first in the Western United States to successfully use new
sensor technology, in conjunction with this very special aorto-uno-iliac
repair, on a patient at Mesa General Hospital.
This
particular patient had an inflammatory infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm,
which makes up less than 5% of all infrarenal aneurysms. The repair of this aneurysm was further
complicated secondary to an occluded right common iliac artery. This patient required an aorto-uno-iliac
endoluminal stent graft with the addition of a left femoral artery to right
femoral artery bypass to restore blood flow to the right lower extremity.
The
first part of the repair addresses the aneurysm. A stent-graft tube-like device is placed, through a small
incision in the groin, to close off the weakened section of the artery and
funnel the blood flow. This reduces
pressure on the bulging aneurysm sac and avoids rupture. Critical to the success of the repair is
stent positioning to completely seal off the aneurysm and prevent blood leaking
into the sac (endoleak). Current
imaging methods may not always show the leak and have risks associated with dye
and radiation. New technology allows
improved information to be transmitted from the inside out through a sensor
placed within the aneurysm sac.
The new sensor technology
is a part of CardioMEMS’ new EndoSureä Wireless AAA Pressure Measurement System, which
received FDA concurrence for release into the U.S. market October 28,
2005. The system consists of a
paperclip size sensor, which is inserted into the aneurysm sac during the
stent-graft repair. Radio frequency
energy (no batteries) from an antenna held over the patient’s abdomen transmits
blood pressure changes from the sensor to an external screen. The resulting information provides the
surgeon with feedback on the position of the stent-graft and whether it is
completely sealing off the aneurysm.
Any necessary placement or adjustments are made. In addition, the position of the graft and
continued success of the seal can be checked before hospital discharge as well
as during follow-up office visits.
The
second part of the repair addresses restoration of blood flow to the blocked
branch of the iliac artery. A graft is
positioned between the right and left femoral arteries to restore blood flow to
the right lower extremity.
Advanced Cardiac Specialists is the only center in Arizona offering this new technology to patients. Marc L. Eckhauser, M.D. is one of a handful of surgeons in the country trained and experienced with the EndoSureä Wireless AAA Pressure Measurement System in conjunction with endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. Dr. Eckhauser is with Advanced Cardiac Specialists, a statewide Cardiology and Internal Medicine practice, based in Phoenix, with Medical Director and Chief of Cardiovascular Services, Robert M. Siegel, M.D. Additional information is available by calling (480) 926-6990.