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New Minimally Invasive Investigational Treatment Available for Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
What is a thoracic aortic aneurysm?
An aortic aneurysm is a widening or bulging of a portion of the aorta, the largest artery in the body responsible for carrying blood out of the heart and into the organs of the body. The aorta projects upward from the heart through the chest (thoracic aorta) and then arches downward into the abdomen (abdominal aorta). A thoracic aortic aneurysm is a widening or bulging in the ascending aorta, arch or descending aorta to at least 1.5 times beyond its normal diameter of one inch.
What are the symptoms of a thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA)?
The symptoms of thoracic aortic aneurysms often don't occur until the aneurysm is quite large and begins to leak or expand. They are usually caused by pressure from the aorta on surrounding organs in the chest and include:
- Pain in the upper back
- Coughing
- Hoarse voice
- Difficulty swallowing
- Swelling in the neck and arms
- Horner's syndrome (drooping eyelid, constricted pupil and dry skin on one side of the face)
How is thoracic aortic aneurysm treated?
There are two courses of treatment typically used for thoracic aortic aneurysms: surgery and observation. Surgical repair requires opening the chest cavity, clamping off the aorta and sewing a surgical graft in place to prevent an aneurysm from rupturing. Many physicians place patients who are ineligible for surgery under observation and monitor the progress of the aneurysm.
CorVasc is one of 35 sites around the country — and the only site in Indiana — participating in the STARZ-TX2 trial (Study of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Repair with the Zenith TX2 Thoracic TAA Endovascular Graft). This is a national study in which an endograft system is inserted in the groin, guided into position through a patient s arteries under fluoroscopy, and placed inside the weakened section of the thoracic aorta to relieve pressure on the aneurysm.
CorVasc is accepting patients for the STARZ-TX2 trial. For more information on eligibility requirements, please contact us at at
info@corvascmds.com.
More information about STARZ-TX2 and thoracic aortic aneurysms is available at
www.starz-tx2.com.
CorVasc surgeons also implant the GoreTAG endograft that is
FDA approved and likely have implanted more than more of
these endografts than other centers in Indiana.
For more information contact info@corvascmds.com.
Note: The Zenith TX2 Thoracic TAA Endovascular Graft is an investigational device, limited by federal (U.S.A.) law to investigational use.
Thoracic
Aortic Aneurysms
 You have an aneurysm
in your aorta. This is a ballooning out of the blood vessel wall.
Before being diagnosed, you may have had no symptoms, or symptoms of
back pain, shortness of breath, coughing, hoarseness, and/or difficulty
swallowing. A routine X-ray, MRI or CT scan for unrelated symptoms
may also have found an aneurysm.
The Aortic Aneurysm
The aorta is the main artery in the body
and supplies blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The
aorta is made of three tissue layers. When there is damage to the
middle layer, it is called an aneurysm.
 An aneurysm may involve the:
- Aortic valve
- Ascending aorta next to the heart
- Aortic arch that supplies the brain with blood
- Descending thoracic aorta that supplies
the belly and lower body
A thoracoabdominal aneurysm is an aortic
aneurysm that begins in the chest (thoracic) region and extends into the
belly.
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