Canadian physicians performing thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) can now achieve even greater levels of control, proximal conformity and apposition with Cook Medical's new Zenith TX2 TAA Endovascular Graft with Pro-Form. The technology, approved by Health Canada, is specifically designed for patients with tight aortic arches that are traditionally difficult to seal. TX2 with Pro-Form utilizes an improved delivery system that allows physicians to achieve unrivaled proximal conformity and apposition of the device to the aortic wall, virtually eliminating the 'bird's beak' gap.

"Tight aortic arches in TAA patients, many of whom are women, pose a particular challenge to endovascular treatment," said Dr. Tom Forbes, chief of vascular surgery at London Health Sciences Centre. "Often in these cases, a so-called 'bird's beak' gap can form between the endograft and the arch. TX2 with Pro-Form lends the physician additional control during deployment to help ensure the endograft conforms to and presses against the aortic wall, thereby repairing the aneurysm and restoring blood flow."

TAAs, often caused by a hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure or trauma, occur when the section of the aorta in the chest weakens and bulges outward like a balloon. Aneurysms in the thoracic aorta can result in severe internal bleeding and are potentially fatal; left untreated, five-year survival is estimated at 10 to 15 percent. Moreover, in approximately 25 percent of TAA patients, the aortic arch, which is formed like an inverted U, is exceptionally tight, making treatment difficult.

Many earlier endografts were too rigid or possessed sealing stents that lacked the radial force to conform correctly to the inner curvature of tight aortic arches, preventing the graft from properly sealing off the aneurysm. Consequently, surgeons have been forced to remodel the arch with a balloon or use other aids to position the graft in an effort to reduce the risk of continued bleeding into the aneurysm and possible rupture. As a result, these difficult repair procedures are often long and complex. TX2 with Pro-Form's enhanced delivery system may mitigate the need for such additional measures.

"Physicians performing TEVAR today face unique challenges requiring specially designed technologies that provide solutions and encourage high-quality patient care," explained Phil Nowell, global leader of Cook's Aortic Intervention business unit. "With the launch of the original TX2 endograft in Canada earlier this year and now the addition of TX2 with Pro-Form, Cook is providing physicians in Canada with the most advanced technologies to treat a broader range of patients suffering from TAAs."

TEVAR - A Minimally Invasive Alternative to Open Surgery

Historically, open surgical repair has been the standard treatment for TAAs. Under this approach, the chest cavity is opened and the aorta is clamped, allowing the surgeon to sew a surgical graft into place to prevent a rupture. Open surgery for TAA can lead to serious complications and extended recovery times, and also has a higher patient mortality rate than endovascular repair.

With TEVAR, a minimally invasive alternative to traditional open surgery, an endograft is guided into the body by a catheter to seal off the aneurysm from within. Patients undergoing TEVAR typically experience shorter recovery times and less patient discomfort, and are also at a lower risk of the comorbidities associated with open surgical repair. The Zenith TX2 device is inserted through a small incision in the groin to access the patient's femoral artery and is guided into position through the patient's arteries under fluoroscopy. The fabric-covered, self-expanding stent-graft is then deployed in the weakened section of the thoracic aorta to relieve pressure on the aneurysm to reduce the risk of rupture. For more information, visit zenithstentgraft.

Source
Cook Medical