Cook Medical announced its recent approval from the U.S. FDA for its Zenith Dissection Endovascular System. The system, consisting of a proximal stent-graft component and a distal bare stent component, provides physicians a less invasive alternative to open surgery for repair of Type B dissections of the descending thoracic aorta. The device will be available for sale in the U.S. in the coming months.
Aortic dissection is a tear that occurs between the innermost and middle layers of the aorta. When the inner layer of the aorta tears, blood flows through the tear, which causes the inner and middle layers of the aorta to separate (dissect). Type B dissection involves a tear in the lower (descending) aorta, while Type A dissection involves a tear in the upper (ascending) aorta.
Globally, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is acknowledged as the treatment of choice for complicated Type B aortic dissection. These procedures are meant to prevent malperfusion of aortic branches and aortic rupture.
