Lankenau Medical Center first in Pennsylvania to offer new treatment option for abdominal aortic aneurysms
The ALTO Abdominal Stent Graft System is a minimally-invasive treatment option for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). While minimally invasive treatments have long been available for the treatment of AAA, the ALTO system is unique because of its design—the size of the implant allows surgeons to treat patients with small vessels and challenging access, and an integrated balloon feature makes for an easier seal and long-term durability. As a result, minimally invasive AAA treatment is available to a broader range of patients.
“To be the first in the state to offer this treatment to our patients is exciting. The ALTO has a superior design that makes it a preferable option for providers but its most important feature is that it offers improved outcomes and allows us to improve the quality of life and survival rate for more patients than ever before,” says Dr. Meisner.
The aorta is the body’s main artery, carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Abdominal aortic aneurysm is an enlarged and weakened section, or “ballooning” of the aorta below the renal arteries that may require treatment to prevent it from bursting and causing serious internal bleeding. Abdominal aortic aneurysms often grow slowly with few—if any—symptoms and are more common among men age 65 and over, as well as people with a history of smoking or tobacco use. Depending on your personal health history, you may be eligible for an AAA screening.
Featuring a unique sealing technology, ALTO is the latest generation of low-profile polymer-based therapies for AAA treatment, offered exclusively by the Endologix Corporation. Endologix Inc. develops and manufactures minimally invasive treatments for aortic disorders. Additional information about the company can be found at www.endologix.com.
Lankenau Heart Institute offers a range of diagnostic and treatment options for AAA. Learn more or make an appointment with a vascular specialist.
About Main Line Health
Main Line Health® is a not-for-profit health system serving the greater Philadelphia region. The System comprises five hospitals, seven health centers, more than 160 outpatient and physician practice locations, over 14,500 employees and more than 2,200 employed and independent physicians and advanced practice providers.
Founded in 1985, Main Line Health includes four of the region’s most respected acute care hospitals — Lankenau Medical Center, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Paoli Hospital and Riddle Hospital — as well as Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, one of the nation’s premier facilities for rehabilitative medicine. The System also includes Mirmont Treatment Center, which provides treatment and support for substance use disorders; Main Line Health HomeCare & Hospice; Main Line HealthCare, its employed multispecialty physician network; Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, a leading biomedical research organization; and Main Line Health Centers offering primary and specialty care, lab, radiology and other outpatient services in Broomall, Collegeville, Concordville, Devon, Exton, King of Prussia and Newtown Square.
Main Line Health brings together physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, researchers and other healthcare professionals across a broad network of inpatient, outpatient, home-based and community-based services. Through this integrated approach, the System delivers high-quality, comprehensive care across the continuum — from primary care and preventive services to complex specialty, surgical, trauma, emergency, rehabilitative, behavioral health, home care and hospice services — with a focus on making care accessible in the communities where people live and work.
Main Line Health also collaborates with leading clinical partners to expand access to specialized care. Through its affiliation with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, pediatric care is provided at select Main Line Health locations, including neonatal intensive care units at its acute care hospitals and Bryn Mawr Hospital’s Inpatient Pediatric Unit and Emergency Department. Jefferson Health neurosurgeons and neurointerventionalists also provide 24/7 specialized care, including neurointervention and lifesaving stroke care.
About Lankenau Heart Institute
Lankenau Heart Institute is Main Line Health’s premier comprehensive cardiovascular program, bringing together cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and advanced practice providers across the System’s four acute care hospitals: Lankenau Medical Center, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Paoli Hospital and Riddle Hospital. Through a coordinated approach, the Institute offers a full continuum of high-quality cardiovascular care — from prevention and diagnostics to clinical trials, advanced treatments and rehabilitation — with a commitment to excellence in outcomes and patient experience.
A nationally recognized leader in innovation and exceptional clinical outcomes, Lankenau Heart Institute is at the forefront of minimally invasive and transcatheter procedures for coronary revascularization, valve repair and replacement, complex aortic surgery and the treatment of advanced heart failure and arrhythmias. Its pioneering work in robotic-assisted and beating-heart techniques and minimally invasive and robotic valve repair continues to shape the future of cardiovascular care. With a robust and influential presence in national clinical trials, its physicians regularly participate in groundbreaking research focused on new therapies, technologies and procedures, primarily through less invasive approaches.
About Lankenau Medical Center
Founded in 1860, Lankenau Medical Center is recognized among the top hospitals in the Philadelphia region for exceptional patient care. The hospital offers a comprehensive range of primary care, disease prevention, and specialized medical and surgical services, including cardiovascular care, cancer care, obstetrics and neonatology, pulmonology and thoracic care, gastroenterology and GI surgery, and orthopaedics. It also offers a level II trauma center.
A leader in medical education, Lankenau Medical Center trains a diverse group of residents and fellows participating in programs across multiple specialties. The hospital is also home to the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, where groundbreaking research advances the detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and offers access to clinical trials. Lankenau Medical Center combines compassionate care with cutting-edge technology in a patient-centered environment.
Contacts
Phil Ellingsworth Jr.Associate Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs
Office: 484.580.1182
EllingsworthPh@mlhs.org
Gina Mahon
Manager, Communications
Office: 484.580.1026
mahong@mlhs.org