For Immediate Release: October 10, 2011

Contact: Erica Smith (217) 544-6464, ext. 44307 erica.smith@st-johns.org

AREA’S FIRST STENT-ASSISTED COILING PROCEDURE TO TREAT ANEURYSMS PERFORMED BY SIU NEUROSURGEON AT ST. JOHN’S HOSPITAL

 

Springfield, IL – St. John’s Hospital has the potential to help patients with aneurysms who previously would have had to travel to St. Louis or Peoria for treatment. On August 29, 2011, Sushant Kale, MD, director of stroke and interventional neurology at St. John’s and assistant professor of neurology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, performed the first Stent Assisted Coiling procedure at St. John’s Hospital.

The Stent Assisted Coiling procedure, which was first performed at St. John’s Hospital by Dr. Kale, now allows neurointerventionalists to help patients who have a wide-necked aneurysm.  “This initial case was possibly one of the most challenging in neurointervention, and it was our first one,” said Dr. Kale.

The patient’s aneurysm was in the ophthalmic segment of the left internal carotid artery just behind the left eye.  Because it was a wide-necked aneurysm, a stent had to first be placed in the artery over the area to hold the coil in place. A guiding catheter in the neck was used to support the micro catheter to place the stent, and then a micro catheter was used to insert the coil in the aneurysm through tiny holes in the side of the stent. The coil used in this case is described as “360” meaning it would take the complex shape of the aneurysm and also produce a cage to hold further coils inside the aneurysm. The coil is deployed by the microcatheter and detached from the delivery wire using electrical current.

This type of stent is particularly helpful to neuro patients and unlike stents used to treat cardiac blockages because it pops open (self expanding) when placed.

An aneurysm is an abnormal widening or ballooning of a portion of an artery due to weakness in the wall of the blood vessel. When an aneurysm occurs in a blood vessel of the brain, it is called a cerebral aneurysm. Brain aneurysms that rupture have the potential to cause stroke, disability and death.

Aneurysms can be either narrow or wide necked. For a narrow-necked aneurysm, coils made of platinum are inserted into the aneurysm in order to prevent blood flow into it.

In the past, only narrow-necked aneurysms could be treated using the coiling method. However, new technology has made it possible for coiling to be used in the treatment of wide-necked aneurysms.

 “The coil works by forming a clot in the weakened vessel. Because blood sticks to the coil, which is densely packed into the aneurysm, the coil acts as a scaffolding for the clot. The clot formed within the aneurysm around the coils prevents free flow of blood and out of the aneurysm and induces healing. Within weeks or a few months, the clot blocks off the weakened portion of the artery and the vessel wall will grow over the neck of the aneurysm, repairing the weakened area,” explains Dr. Kale.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, ruptured cerebral aneurysms are often deadly. About 25% of people die within one day, and another 25 percent die within about three months. Of those who survive, about 25 percent will have some sort of permanent disability.

“St. John’s is proud to work with SIU physicians to offer outstanding care in the areas of vascular and neurosurgery,” said Bob Ritz, President and CEO of St. John’s Hospital. “New innovations and technology, used by talented physicians and medical staff members, provide our community with the best health care possible.”
______

About Hospital Sisters Health System
Hospital Sisters Health System is a Roman Catholic health care mission founded to continue the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Sponsored by the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care framed in traditional values taught by St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi.  It is dedicated to serving all people, including the poor and the needy, at each of its 13 Local Systems in Illinois (Belleville, Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Highland, Litchfield, Springfield and Streator) and in Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Sheboygan and two in Green Bay).  For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org.