Interventional therapy for diseases of the aorta

The aortaThe main major artery in the body. Leads from the left ventricle via an arch in the thoracic cavity to the abdominal cavity. There it splits into two large iliac arteries. carries blood from the heart to the body and is divided into three sections: the ascending aorta, the aortic archTopmost, arch-shaped part of the aorta. Here the vessels branch off towards the head and arms. and the descending aorta. The vessel wall of the aorta consists of three layers. Diseases of the aorta include dilatations of the vessel (aneurysmAbnormal dilatation of a blood vessel or a chamber of the heart.), tears of the two inner layers of the heart wall (dissection) or bleeding due to accidents or vessel wall calcification. The symptoms of these conditions vary greatly and range from severe chest pain and circulatory disorders of organs to circulatory shockIn medicine, shock refers to a life-threatening condition in which the oxygen supply to the body’s cells is reduced. E.g. as a result of circulatory collapse due to a severely reduced pumping capacity of the heart (myocardial infarction), extreme loss of fluid due to bleeding or in septic clinical pictures and allergic reactions. due to pericardial tamponadeFilling of the pericardial sac with fluid, e.g. with blood as a result of a ruptured heart wall or with fluid as a result of a pericardial effusion. This increases the pressure on the heart and thus hinders the pumping action. It represents a life-threatening situation and requires urgent treatment.. The severity of the vascularConcerning the blood vessels. disease is usually assessed by computed tomography (CT)Non-invasive, diagnostic, computer-assisted imaging procedure using X-rays. It provides images of individual body layers.  A method that primarily provides an image of the size and structure of internal organs and the skeleton. with administration of a contrast medium. In diseases affecting the descending aorta, we can very often avoid open surgery and the vascular disease can be treated by inserting a tubular prosthesisReplacement part for a missing or no longer functioning organ or body part, e.g. heart valve prosthesis. (stentSpiral-shaped, lattice-like vessel supports, usually made of a precious metal. Used when balloon dilatation has not produced the desired results or to close off aneurysms of the great vessels.). The CTComputed tomography. scan is a prerequisite for planning an interventional treatment method and determining the size and length of a stent. At the German Heart Centre Munich, two hybrid operating theatres are available for these procedures. The interventionA quick medical measure to slow down the progression of a disease, e.g. with the help of the cardiac catheter (interventional cardiac catheter technique) an acutely occluded coronary vessel is reopened and thus the spread of the heart attack area is stopped. can usually be done without a general anaesthetic. Access to the aorta is usually via the inguinal arteryA blood vessel leading away from the heart that transports oxygenated blood to the organs. Arteries pulsate and can be palpated on the wrist, for example (pulse). The aorta is the main artery of the body.. Using X-ray fluoroscopy and angiographyImaging of blood vessels using contrast medium and X-ray examination. (contrast imaging of the vessels), a stent can be inserted extremely precisely to cover the diseased part of the aorta. Under certain conditions, diseases of the ascending aorta or the aortic arch can also be treated with the implantation of a stent and surgery can be dispensed with.