Stent-Saver
Senior Design Project: Stent-Saver
  • Eva Bica
  • Dominique Gonzalez
  • George Collard
  • Rebecca Gonter
  • Joseph Grogan


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    >Disease

    Disease Information

    • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA) is a ballooning of the Aorta
    • 10th leading cause of death among men
    • 50,000 new patients per year
    • 15,000 people die per year from AAA
    • If AAA ruptures there is an 85% chance that the patient will die from blood loss
    • Albert Einstein died from a ruptured AAA




      Possible Causes
    • High blood pressure
    • Cigarette smoking
    • Passed on through genetics
    • Astherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of arteries)



    Current Treatment

      Open Surgery
    • Incision is made from bottom of the breast bone to top of pubic bone
    • Aorta is clamped and aneurysm is cut open
    • Open section is replaced with an aortic-graft, which is sewn into place
    • Aneurysm sac is sewn around the graft to protect surrounding organs



    Endovascular Surgery

    • Recent non-invasive technique developed.
    • A small incision is made on the inner thigh.
    • Guide wires and X-ray technology used for placement.
    • Stent-graft deployed within body.
    • The stent-graft is held in place by the pressure that it exerts on the aorta walls




      Problems with Current Treatment

      Open Surgery
    • Traumatic experience for the body that requires a long recovery period; This surgery is not feasible for all patients

      Endovascular Surgery
    • The stent-graft is not stitched in place
    • The stent-graft at risk for migrating and leaking
      • Type 1 leaks: Leaking around the stent: most severe leak
      • Type 2 leaks: Backflow into the aortic cavity
      • Type 3 leaks: Leaks from the body of the device



     ©2004. Eva Bica, Dominique Gonzalez, George Collard, Rebecca Gonter, Joseph Grogran