MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich.—McLaren Macomb, the 288-bed acute care hospital serving all of Macomb County, is now offering a minimally invasive surgical option to its patients who are suffering from the effects of an aortic aneurysm, a potentially fatal condition. A catheter-based procedure, Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) safely and effectively repairs the aneurysm building in the aorta, a major blood vessel of the body.
Dr. Joseph Cuppari
An aortic aneurysm is a thinning and weakening of the arterial wall, creating a balloon-like bulge. Blood flow aids in the growth of the aneurysm, increasing the risk of rupture and potentially fatal internal bleeding.
Traditionally, vascular surgeons would repair the aneurysm with an open approach that requires a large incision in the abdomen or chest, leading to an extended recovery. However, via the minimally invasive TEVAR procedure, surgeons perform the repair via a catheter inserted through a small incision in the groin.
“It is vitally important to intervene on an aneurysm, both to prevent its rupture and alleviate the symptoms,” said Dr. Joseph Cuppari, a vascular surgeon at McLaren Macomb. “It’s highly favorable to address this condition with a minimally invasive approach, which allows us to achieve a positive outcome while at the same time avoiding extensive soft tissue damage and a months-long recovery.”
Utilizing the latest imaging technology, the catheter is tunneled to the aneurysm before deploying a stent—a mesh fabric supported by a metal frame—across the aneurysm’s neck, diverting the blood flow that aided in its growth and safely shrinking it over time.
Affecting more than 3 million people in the United States, aortic aneurysms can develop and continue to slowly grow without presenting any symptoms. However, they can be the cause of nausea, back, abdominal or chest pain, or it can present as a pulsing bulge in the abdomen.
Men are more likely to develop aortic aneurysms, with tobacco use, advanced age and family history among other risk factors.
To learn more about the services offered at McLaren Macomb, which utilizes the latest procedures and leading-edge technology, visit mclaren.org/macomb.
About McLaren Macomb
McLaren Macomb is a 288-bed acute care hospital located in Mount Clemens, Mich. More than 400 physicians and nearly 2,000 employees work at McLaren Macomb making it one of Macomb County’s top employers. McLaren Macomb provides a full range of services, including cancer and cardiovascular care. As Macomb County’s first verified trauma center, the hospital operates the busiest emergency department in Macomb County and is also an accredited chest pain center. McLaren Macomb has a rich history of providing high quality, compassionate health care and holds a strong position in the community it serves. To learn more, visit mclaren.org/macomb or follow our blog mclaren.org/macombblog.
About McLaren Health Care
McLaren Health Care, headquartered in Grand Blanc, Michigan, is a fully integrated health network committed to quality, evidence-based patient care and cost efficiency. The McLaren system includes 14 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, a 490-member employed primary and specialty care physician network, commercial and Medicaid HMOs covering more than 620,000 lives in Michigan and Indiana, home health and hospice providers, retail medical equipment showrooms, pharmacy services, and a wholly owned medical malpractice insurance company. McLaren operates Michigan’s largest network of cancer centers and providers, anchored by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, one of only 49 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the U.S. McLaren has 26,000 employees and more than 85,500 network providers. Its operations are housed in more than 350 facilities serving Michigan and Indiana.