CardioTech’s Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Implanted in Female Diabetic — Patient Alive and Graft Functioning Well
CardioTech International, Inc. (AMEX: CTE – News): CardioTech International announced today that a female diabetic 68 years of age is alive and doing well after implantation of CardioTech’s CardioPass(TM) synthetic coronary artery bypass graft.
On August 6th, 2003, Dr. Ivo Nesralla, Professor of Cardiac Surgery at the world renowned Instituto da Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre, Brazil, performed the operation.
Dr. Nesralla, reports that the surgery went smoothly and the graft was easily sutured. He also reports that the patient is expected to leave the hospital and return home soon.
The patient was diagnosed in very poor condition and considered a “redo” patient, as she had no useable mammary artery. Both her right coronary artery and the left descending artery were reoccluded. The doctor used a saphenous vein graft on her right coronary artery and the CardioPass patented synthetic coronary artery bypass graft on her left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery.
Dr Ivo Nesralla is Professor of Cardiac Surgery and President of the Instituto da Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre. The Institute is one of Brazil’s leading cardiac surgery centers. Brazil is among the top three countries in the world in volume of cardiac surgery. The Institute performs almost 2,000 cardiac surgeries per year and is a dedicated hospital for the treatment of cardiology and cardiac surgery.
Professor Nesralla, who is a past President of the Brazilian Society of Cardiac Surgery, commented: “I am thrilled at the patient’s response to the implantation of the CardioPass. The graft is maintaining patency, operating perfectly and the patient is doing well. CardioTech’s synthetic artery is truly a 21st century technology. I am hopeful that it will help extend and normalize the lives of people at risk for cardiac disease.”
Michael Szycher, PhD, CEO of CardioTech, commented: “This operation marks another milestone for CardioTech. This was the first adult to receive our coronary artery bypass graft. I am very grateful that Dr. Nesralla has chosen to use our technology to bring hope to patients who have no other option for revascularization of coronary arteries. The graft continues to show consistent patency and that is extremely significant and important. ”
