VELLORE: For the first time in the country, thanks to research at the Christian Medical College (CMC), it is now possible to give a new lease of life to patients suffering from aortic aneurysm, a condition involving the abnormal dilatation of blood vessels, which progressively enlarge over time and finally rupture, leading to death from internal bleeding, if left untreated. The new procedure has drastically cut down the cost of intervention as well as the time required to procure custom-made stent grafts. Speaking about CMC’s contribution, Dr George Joseph, attached to the Department of Cardiology, said that the new procedure was performed for the first time in the country in January this year when a large bulge (measuring 2.5 cms in diameter and 30 cms in length) in the blood vessel connecting the heart with the abdomen was corrected on a 34-year-old patient. The patient has since made a full recovery.A decade ago, risky open heart surgeries were the only option available to treat such conditions. About two decades ago, endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms was considered as an equally effective and less invasive alternative. Here, a stent (a flexible tube with a metal skeleton that springs open) is introduced into the blood vessel through a small incision. However, once deployed, the aortic stent graft allowed blood to flow through it vertically but not sideways, thus blocking supply to the organs like kidneys. However, a problem releated to precision was encountered since stent manufacturers require precise information to design fenestrated stent grafts. Custom made fenestration, based on CT scans costs between Rs 20 and Rs 30 lakh. This is where CMC’s solution is of immense value. Dr. Edwin Stephen, Department of Vascular Surgery explained, “after studying the patient’s needs, we have manually made fenestrations using a cautery by heating its metal portion. The 20-step process needs a lot of planning.” While in the USA, Dr. Joseph Rocotta, who pioneered the process three years ago, used a laser cautery, doctors at CMC used a heated cautery and made the process simple, quick and inexpensive. “The fenestrations should be placed in appropriate positions on the stent graft and catheterisation skills are used to deploy them,” said Dr. Stephen. “The ability to making precision holes on the stent-grafts will enable endovascular treatment feasible in a wider range of patients, besides making it affordable and less time consuming by eliminating the need for custom-made stents,” stated Dr George Joseph.
Comments
0 comment