In Reply to: Case 0100_09 -- Treatment of a Traumatic Thoracic Aortic Tear with the Talent Endoprosthesis posted by Editor on December 30, 1999 at 14:20:48:
I think much will depend on the FDA and how it responds to "indication expansion" in this arena and others. I know there probably many trauma patients who would benefit from this kind of repair as opposed to a major thoracotomy.
I think we are already seeing surgical OR/Angio rooms becomming more common. In one of the hospitals I practice at, the surgeons are helping us get a new angio room by proposing to use it as an additional OR and thereby relieving some of the congestion in the OR.
As far as "ctu-downs" go, I thnk we could probably do them and perhaps credentialing might be possible, but I hope the development of smaller devices and better endovascular suture techniques will obviate the need for us to learn these skill.