Aortic Aneurysm News and Research RSS Feed - Aortic Aneurysm News and Research

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a ballooning of the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the human body, which extends into the abdomen. If the wall of this blood vessel becomes weakened, it can stretch, "balloon" out and rupture. A rupture, if left untreated, can lead to life-threatening internal bleeding. The exact cause of this condition is unknown. However, it often occurs in older adults, especially males, those with a high cholesterol level, and in smokers. There also tends to be a genetic link to this disorder.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation honors Beaumont cardiologist for improving health care in Michigan

Kavitha Chinnaiyan, M.D., director of Advanced Cardiac Imaging Education at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, has received the Frank J. McDevitt, D.O., Award for Excellence in Health Policy Research for Physicians. [More]
UK’s health performance: an interview with Prof. Murray, University of Washington

UK’s health performance: an interview with Prof. Murray, University of Washington

Rates of premature mortality in the UK have been falling steadily, but the pace of decline is not as fast as in many other high-income countries, such as Australia. In that sense, the UK lags behind. [More]

High HDL levels block development of aneurysms in the aorta

New research provides early evidence that 'good' cholesterol may possess anti-aneurysm forming properties. In laboratory-based investigations, scientists found that increased levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), the so-called good cholesterol, blocked the development of aneurysms - dangerous 'ballooning' in the wall of a blood vessel - in the body's largest artery, the aorta. [More]
UK’s health performance declining compared with 14 EU countries over past 20 years

UK’s health performance declining compared with 14 EU countries over past 20 years

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Researcher looks at role of TIMP3 protein linked with aortic aneurysms in the abdomen

A researcher with the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry and the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute is looking closely at a molecule linked to aortic aneurysms in the abdomen, and her findings could lead to a treatment to reduce swelling of the aortic artery, which would be a life-saving treatment. [More]
Similar survival rates with endovascular, open aneurysm repair

Similar survival rates with endovascular, open aneurysm repair

Endovascular and open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm result in similar long-term survival rates, say researchers in TheNew England Journal of Medicine. [More]
Study: Notch 1 signaling activated in abdominal aortic aneurysmal tissue

Study: Notch 1 signaling activated in abdominal aortic aneurysmal tissue

A gene known to be involved in cancer and cardiovascular development may be the cause of inflammation in the most common form of aortic aneurysm and may be a key to treatment, according to research from Nationwide Children's Hospital. [More]
HDL may protect against abdominal aortic aneurysm

HDL may protect against abdominal aortic aneurysm

High levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol inhibit the formation of abdominal aortic aneurysm, findings from experimental mouse models suggest. [More]

FDA clears Aptus’ HeliFX Aortic Securement System

Aptus Endosystems, Inc., a medical device company developing advanced technology for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), announced today that it received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its thoracic-length HeliFX Aortic Securement System. [More]

Endovascular repair for abdominal aortic aneurysms has low rate of complications

A minimally invasive procedure known as endovascular repair used for abdominal aortic aneurysms has a low rate of complications, even in high-risk patients such as those with kidney, heart or lung problems, a Mayo Clinic study shows. [More]
Study raises cautionary note about preferential use of endovascular technique for ruptured AAA

Study raises cautionary note about preferential use of endovascular technique for ruptured AAA

A new study raises a cautionary note about the increasing use of a minimally invasive procedure to repair ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms, according to vascular surgeon Dr. Jae Sung Cho of Loyola University Medical Center. [More]
National Marfan Foundation’s annual conference to be held in Chicago

National Marfan Foundation’s annual conference to be held in Chicago

The National Marfan Foundation is gearing up for its 28th Annual conference, held at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, August 2-5. Hosted by Northwestern Medicine- and the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, the four-day conference has something for everyone with Marfan syndrome (MFS) and related disorders, including access to many of the top MFS experts in the world. [More]

Rescreening men for aneurysm likely to be a cost-effective option

Aneurysm screening for men aged over 65 is cost effective and rescreening those at highest risk, at least once, should be considered, suggests a study published on bmj.com today. [More]

Aneurysm rescreening for high risk men should be considered

Aneurysm screening for men aged over 65 is cost effective and rescreening those at highest risk, at least once, should be considered, suggests a study published on bmj.com today. [More]

Currently available online information about abdominal aortic aneurysms need improvement

During the last decade use of the Internet has begun to pervade all aspects of modern life, including an "e-health revolution" where patients may research health issues online before seeking professional consultation. However according to researchers from Leeds in the United Kingdom (U.K), the quality and readability of online patient information specifically for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) is poor and requires significant improvement. [More]
Branches following complex aortic aneurysm repair appear to be durable: Study

Branches following complex aortic aneurysm repair appear to be durable: Study

Branches following complex aortic aneurysm repair appear to be durable and are rarely the cause of patient death following complex aortic aneurysm repair according to a study presented at the 66th Vascular Annual Meeting presented by the Society for Vascular Surgery. [More]
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound effective method for abdominal aortic aneurysms

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound effective method for abdominal aortic aneurysms

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is an effective, noninvasive method for monitoring patients who undergo endovascular repair for abdominal aortic aneurysms, according to a new study published in the journal Radiology. [More]

Medtronic’s Valiant Captivia Stent Graft now available in seven countries

Increasing patient access to endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms worldwide, Medtronic, Inc. is expanding availability of the Valiant Captivia Thoracic Stent Graft System in several countries, including China, Japan and the United States. [More]

Cardiovascular emergencies may benefit from regionalized systems of care

Experts are proposing a new model of care collaboration to diagnosis, treat and follow patients who present with various emergent cardiovascular conditions which require rapid, resource-intensive care and confer a high risk of mortality, in an article published April 24 in Circulation. [More]

Endovascular aneurysm repair associated with lower mortality rates

A burst aneurysm in the abdominal aorta-the largest blood vessel in the body- is a deadly condition. In fact, about half of these patients don't make it to the hospital in time. Those who do more often than not face open surgery to repair the blood vessel. This study finds that a minimally invasive interventional radiology treatment for ruptured aneurysms called endovascular aneurysm repair is safer than open surgical repair and is associated with lower mortality rates, say researchers Society of Interventional Radiology's 37th Annual Scientific Meeting in San Francisco, Calif. [More]