Valley surgeon heads up test of aneurysm treatment - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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Rodriguez, the director of peripherapl vascular services at the ArizonasHeart Institute, has been named the national principal investigator for the Phase II study, which is required by the to enrolkl 160 patients. The Arizona Heart Institute is one of 14 centers involvefd in thestudy nationwide. “We are lookintg to include at least six more centerw to complete 20 centers in the Rodriguez said. The endoluminal graft is manufactured bynear Glasgow, Scotland. Callesd the Anaconda Stent Grafyt System, it allows the surgeom to reposition the device once it has been place acrossthe aneurysm.
So far, nearly 4,0009 patients in Europe have received theAnaconda device, but it must get approvakl from the FDA before it can be used in the U.S. Rodrigueza said the minimally invasive procedurwe onthe study’s first patient went well, saying the devic is very easy to use. “He was up on his feet the next morningbhaving breakfast,” Rodriguez said of the “You can’t do that when you open the This eliminates the need for open heartf surgery.” Abdominal aortic aneurysm, or of the body’s main artery, is a serious condition prone to rupture and lead to sudden death. Actord John Ritter died of an aortic rupturin 2003.
Symptoms can occur suddenlh with severe, sharp pain in the abdomen. Patients who experiencse these symptoms should seek immediatemedicakl attention, Rodriguez said. Earlyu detection can prevent sudden death. Patientds with a family history of aorticd aneurysm or other connective tissue disorders should notifg their physician about their risk of aortic he said.