Health & Fitness
Advanced, Minimally Invasive Surgery Repairs Aneurysm
Where Collaborative Care and Top Specialists Lead to Better Health
This is a paid post contributed by a Patch Community Partner. The views expressed in this post are the author's own, and the information presented has not been verified by Patch.
What began as a familiar bout of stomach pain for 74-year-old Cecelia Lucas turned into a life-saving journey. A visit to the emergency department at Hackensack Meridian Southern Ocean Medical Center over Memorial Day weekend in 2022 led to the discovery of a silent, dangerous condition: a Descending Thoracic and an abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (DTAA).
The diagnosis was delivered by Arthur DeMarsico, M.D., a vascular surgeon and the hospital's chair of surgery. For Cecelia, the news was terrifying, especially since her brother had endured a difficult, invasive surgery for the same condition.
A DTAA is a widening of the body's main artery, the aorta. If it grows too large or ruptures, it can be fatal. These aneurysms are often hereditary and can be linked to high blood pressure.
For two years, Dr. DeMarsico carefully monitored Cecelia's aneurysm with imaging studies every six months. When the aneurysm grew to a size that required intervention, Cecelia was faced with the prospect of a surgery she deeply feared.
"The surgery my brother had for the same thing was rough, and he had a long and difficult recovery," she recalls. "It’s not something that I wanted to go through."
Traditional open surgery for this condition involves a large chest incision and a lengthy, high-risk recovery. However, Dr. DeMarsico offered a groundbreaking alternative: a minimally invasive procedure called Thoracoabdominal Branch Endoprosthesis (TAMBE).
"Cecelia was a good candidate for this surgery," says Dr. DeMarsico. "The procedure was designed to treat aneurysms like hers, and because it is minimally invasive, it results in less blood loss, shorter hospital stays and a faster recovery."
During the TAMBE procedure, a specialized stent graft is inserted through small incisions in the groin to repair the aorta, while a unique four-branch device ensures continued blood flow to vital organs.
Given the complexity of the case, Dr. DeMarsico collaborated with Satishkiran Kedika, M.D., a vascular surgeon from Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center. This partnership highlights the collaborative strength within the Hackensack Meridian Health network, ensuring patients have access to the most advanced care available.
"One of the benefits of being a patient at Hackensack Meridian Health is that you have access to physicians who will collaborate to bring you the most innovative options possible," said Dr. DeMarsico.
Thanks to this teamwork and advanced medical technology, Cecelia's fear has been replaced with gratitude, offering a story of hope and the power of modern medicine.
Read more about how technology and teamwork helped Cecelia avoid major surgery and reclaim her life.
This post is an advertorial piece contributed by a Patch Community Partner, a local brand partner. To learn more, click here.
