Physicians have treated more than 1,250 patients worldwide with the Zenith TX2 TAA Endovascular Graft with Pro-Form, the first-of-its-kind device from Cook Medical designed specifically to repair thoracic aortic aneurysms in anatomies with tight arches as well as conventional cases. Cook’s new Zenith graft, which received FDA approval in May 2009, provides an advanced treatment solution for a life-threatening condition that is diagnosed in 15,000 patients in the USA, each year.
Physicians say they are embracing TX2 with Pro-Form because the graft is designed to enhance treatment in patients whose tight aortic arches pose special difficulties for thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR) but who cannot tolerate open surgical intervention “Twenty five percent of patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms, mostly women, have narrow ‘gothic’ aortic arches,” said Benjamin Starnes, associate professor of surgery and chief of vascular surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle.
“Zenith TX2 with Pro-Form expands the effectiveness of TEVAR within this large subset of patients and opens the door to future innovations that will address other anatomical challenges physicians frequently encounter in potential candidates for this treatment. With its ability to provide physicians with highly controlled device deployment, TX2 with Pro-Form helps ensure the endograft conforms to, and presses against, the aortic wall and repairs the aneurysm without the ‘bird’s beak’ effect seen in some earlier thoracic endografts.”
Thoracic aneurysms occur when a section of the aorta weakens and bulges outward, creating a risk of severe internal bleeding. Only 20-30% of patients who arrive at the hospital with a ruptured aneurysms survive. Unfortunately, many endografts are too rigid or possess sealing stents that lack the radial force to conform correctly to the inner curvature of tight aortic arches. Surgeons must therefore remodel the arch with a balloon or other aids to reduce the risk of continued bleeding and possible rupture.
TX2 with Pro-Form is designed to alleviate the need for such complicated measures. Featuring an improved delivery system specifically engineered for patients with tight arches, Zenith TX2 with Pro-Form provides physicians with greater levels of control during endograft deployment to help establish proximal conformity of the device to the aortic wall. As a result, the device helps prevent the “bird’s beak” gap that prevents proper sealing of the aneurysm, leading to more viable aneurysm repair and restored aortic blood flow.
“Zenith TX2 with Pro-Form technology is a direct result of our collaboration with physicians who told us what they needed in order to expand treatment and improve outcomes for aneurysm patients,” said Phil Nowell, global leader of Cook Medical’s Aortic Intervention business unit. “Cook is the first to address this particular challenge to TEVAR, and the response from the medical community is extremely positive.”
