For the first time in Israel- a complicated operation was performed replacing an artery containing a stent

For the first time in Israel, a complicated operation was performed replacing an artery containing a stent by Professor Joachim Schaefers of Germany, one of the world specialists in performing aortal operations, and Dr. Ehud Ra'anani, Head of the Cardiac Surgery Department of the Sheba Medical Center

In the complicated operation, the first of its kind in Israel, the aortal arch that also included stents was replaced in the heart of a patient because of a large aneurism.

Stents are springs inserted into the arteries in order to isolate the aneurism from the blood flow, thus sealing it.

Replacement of the aortal arch is a very complicated operation for which the blood  flow to the brain has to be stopped, the patient needs to be cooled to a temperature of 18 degrees C, and the blood flow to the entire body has to be stopped for half an hour. While the blood isn't flowing, the arch can be opened and treated.

"The operation was a success, the patient has regained consciousness and the vital signs are good. This successful experience shows that this type of operation is feasible and in the event that similar cases occur in the future, we'll know how to deal with them," said Dr. Ra'anani.

Dr. Ra'anani predicts that in the future there will be similar cases at an increasing rate due to the intensive use of stents in treating aneurisms of the descending aortal artery.

The Cardiac Surgery Department at Sheba specializes, among other things, in operations to repair aneurisms and tears in the aortal artery.

These operations, considered the most complex in cardiac surgery, are frequently performed at Sheba with excellent results comparable with those of the leading departments in the world.
When particularly complex or rare cases arise, the staff teams up with world renowned surgeons from abroad.