New Embolic Defector Used in First Clinical Experience

January 5, 2010 – St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, Canada recently was the first to use the Embrella Embolic Deflector cerebral protection system. The device uses a porous membrane to deflect emboli away from the carotid arteries. It is inserted through the right radial or right brachial artery, away from the femoral artery, which is the typical access site for procedures. The device was used in a 91-year-old patient undergoing a balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) procedure. During BAV procedures there is a risk that atheromatous plaque may be dislodged and travel to the brain during the passage of catheters around the aortic arch or during the subsequent balloon dilation of the stenotic and calcified aortic valve. The device was inserted through the right radial artery, and passed through the brachiocephalic artery and positioned along the greater curvature of the aorta. The device remained in position during the entire BAV procedure. “We were pleased to see how well the device tracked into the aorta and how easily it was positioned. It covered the orifice of the brachiocephalic, left common carotid and the left subclavian arteries,” said Dr. John Webb, director of cardiac catheterization and interventional cardiology, St. Paul’s Hospital. “There was no interaction with the device as we advanced several wires and catheters past the Embrella device enroute to the aortic valve.” The Embrella Embolic Deflector device is not available for clinical use in the United States. For more information: www.embrellacardiovascular.net