Jefferson Aortic Center
In the News
Jefferson Enrolls First U.S. Patient in STABLE Aortic Dissection Trial
Bloomington, Ind., February 11, 2008 – Cook Medical today announced enrollment of the first U.S. patient in the STABLE global
clinical trial designed to evaluate the Cook Zenith® Dissection Endovascular System for the treatment of Type B thoracic aortic
dissections. This is the first device designed specifically to treat aortic dissections, the condition that took the life
of actor John Ritter. The technologically advanced device is the first-of-its-kind worldwide and was designed to treat the
unique morphology of this disease, a major cause of mortality worldwide.
The patient was treated by Joseph Lombardi, M.D., assistant professor at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. Dr. Lombardi is the global principal investigator of the STABLE trial. Performing the surgery with Dr. Lombardi
was Robert A. Larson, M.D., assistant professor at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr.
Larson is the site PI for the STABLE trial at Thomas Jefferson University.
Read the Full Press Release on the Cook Medical Website
Jefferson Vascular Surgeon Heads National Trial for Torn Aorta Repair
(Published 12-7-2007) Jefferson Vascular Surgeon Heads National Trial for Torn Aorta Repair Possible Alternative to Open Chest
Surgery. Tears in the aorta which affect thousands of people each year coast to coast, may soon be treated with a much less
invasive technique that could dramatically improve patients’ chances of survival. A national study being directed by a vascular
surgeon at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital is exploring a new minimally invasive method that could spare patients the
trauma and risk of open chest surgery. Please call 215-955-8304 for more information.
Jefferson Vascular Surgeon Joseph V. Lombardi, M.D. Honored by Associazione Regionale Siciliana for Medical Accomplishments
as Italian American
(Published 4-26-2007) Vascular Surgeon Joseph V. Lombardi, M.D., Founder and Director of the new Aortic Center at Thomas
Jefferson University Hospital, was recently honored by the Associazione Regionale Siciliana of the Delaware Valley at their
15th annual dinner dance for his accomplishments in the field of vascular surgery.
Experimental COOK Device Successfully Treats Australian Patient With Torn Aorta
(Published 5-31-2005)
A 50-year-old male patient suffering one of the most deadly types of aortic diseases was saved using a unique new medical
device combination under development by Cook Incorporated. The patient was admitted with crushing chest pain at Monash Medical
Centre in Melbourne, Australia and diagnosed with an aortic dissection, the same tearing of the body’s main blood vessel that
killed American actor John Ritter.
Minimally Invasive Vascular Surgery was Last, Best Hope for NE Philadelphia Great Grandfather with Life-Threatening Thoracic
Aortic Aneurysm
(Published 4-21-2004)
Louis Hankins was not in any shape for major surgery.
Cook Incorporated Begins U.S. Clinical Trial Of Zenith® TX2™ THORACIC Aortic Aneurysm Endograft
(Published 4-12-2004 )
A team of physicians at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA has completed the first U.S. placement of
the Zenith® TX2™ THORACIC TAA Endovascular Graft under the device’s pivotal U.S. clinical trial sponsored by Cook Incorporated.
The procedure, performed by a surgical team headed by Joseph Lombardi, M.D., chief of Vascular Surgery, Methodist Hospital
Division of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital with Michael Denton, M.D., Chief of Vascular Surgery at Epworth Medical Centre,
Victoria, Australia in attendance, took place Tuesday, March 30.
