HARRISBURG, PA--(Marketwire - May 25, 2009) - On May 18 at 7 p.m. EDT PinnacleHealth will present an ORLive webcast of a Stent Graft Repair of a Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm. Brijeshwar Maini, MD, FACC, along with Sung Jin Park, MD, cardiovascular surgeon, will explain the surgery as it takes place and also answer live email questions from viewers during and after the procedure.

PinnacleHealth's cardiovascular surgeons are using Stent Graft Repair procedures to repair and resolve ever more complex aortic aneurysms. "Up to about 15 years ago, there was a high risk of mortality associated with the open surgery required to resolve this issue. Today, instead of cutting open the chest, we can implant these grafts through small incisions in the groin or even percutaneously through the skin. The risk of mortality is significantly reduced, and patients usually go home the next day," says Brijeshwar Maini, MD, FACC, co-chair of Cardiovascular Research at PinnacleHealth. "An aneurysm is a swelling in the wall of an artery, in this case the aorta that is in danger of bursting. Usually, there are no symptoms for this condition. The whole point behind these stent grafts is to create blood flow through the graft past the aneurysm, thus eliminating the pressure on the aorta," adds Dr. Maini.

About ORLive

ORLive is the world's leading surgical broadcasting company. Working collaboratively with hospitals and device manufacturers, ORLive produces customized, interactive, video programs that demonstrate the latest surgical techniques and product innovations. The ORLive broadcasting network provides an intimate look at over 650 live and on-demand surgeries to a global audience, streaming over 45,000 hours of programming each month. The ORLive network can be found on-line at www.OR-Live.com.