Naples – A 58-year-old man suffering from a severe aortic aneurysm and an aortic valve defect was saved at the Monaldi Hospital in Naples with a cutting-edge procedure never before performed in a facility in Central and Southern Italy. The operation, performed in recent weeks, allowed a particularly delicate condition to be addressed in a single surgical procedure: the aneurysm involved both the ascending aorta and the aortic arch, the area from which the vessels supplying the brain and upper limbs originate.
The “Frozen Elephant Trunk” technique
The Vanvitelli-Monaldi Cardiac Surgery Unit team, led by Professor Marisa De Feo and composed of Professors Alessandro Della Corte, Drs. Ciro Bancone, and Antonietta La Montagna, chose the "Frozen Elephant Trunk" technique, one of the most advanced for complex thoracic aortic pathologies. The operation involved the replacement of the aortic valve, ascending aorta, and the entire aortic arch, with reimplantation of the supra-aortic trunks.
A custom-made prosthesis
The most innovative element was the use of a next-generation hybrid prosthesis, which reduces circulatory arrest times and simplifies critical steps, such as treatment of the left subclavian artery, an anatomically difficult and fragile vessel. The prosthesis was customized to the patient's anatomical characteristics thanks to technical planning developed in collaboration between cardiac surgeons, clinicians, and engineers, starting from preoperative CT images.
Collaboration in the room
Anesthesiologist Manuela Angelone and the operating room's perfusion technicians and nursing staff also participated in the procedure. The procedure was uneventful, and the patient was discharged after a week in excellent clinical condition.
In short
Naples - A 58-year-old man suffering from a severe aortic aneurysm and an aortic valve defect was saved at the Monaldi Hospital in Naples with a surgical procedure…
- The operation, performed in recent weeks, allowed us to address a particularly delicate condition in a single surgical solution: the aneurysm involved…
- The "Frozen Elephant Trunk" technique The team of the Vanvitelli-Monaldi Cardiac Surgery Unit, directed by Professor Marisa De Feo and composed of…
- The operation involved the replacement of the aortic valve, the ascending aorta and the entire aortic arch, with the reimplantation of the supra-aortic trunks.
Key questions
What is the main point of the news?
Naples - A 58-year-old man suffering from a severe aortic aneurysm and an aortic valve defect was saved at the Monaldi Hospital in…
Why is this news relevant?
The operation, performed in recent weeks, allowed us to address a particularly delicate condition in a single surgical solution: the aneurysm involved…
Which detail helps us understand the case better?
The "Frozen Elephant Trunk" Technique The team of the Vanvitelli-Monaldi Cardiac Surgery Unit, directed by Professor Marisa De Feo and composed of Professors Alessandro Della Corte,…
Interesting news, but with too many technicalities. Although its importance is clear, I still have many doubts: the recovery time was very short, but it's unclear how future monitoring will work and who will administer the antithrombotic therapy. Finally, some information on risks and follow-up would have been helpful.