“What is the PEARS Procedure? Personalized external aortic root support (PEARS) is a procedure in which a 3D copy of the patient’s aorta is made by computer-aided design. Using that as a former, a mesh sleeve of the same shape and size is made to fit that patient’s aorta.”
I knew it! 10 years ago, we’d told our doctors about this guy who 3D printed a custom wrap for his aortic aneurysm. Doctors were skeptical then due to lack of evidence or number of proven case studies.
In 2015, I’d considered going to New Zealand which had trained one doctor for PEARS. Now 2023, Singapore is finally catching up and will finally collaborate with UK to start the surgery. Of course, Malaysia was already boasting about this repair operation two years ago https://youtu.be/1orPGW3k0oI
https://youtu.be/L5HHErXLDlA so the journey began and technology advanced from 2004. By 2020, there’s more data now to support the use of a wrap to prevent structural issues. Engineering works. https://youtu.be/ryndeievpUw
I’m way past all the surgeries needed for my aorta has trombosed said Prof Kenny Sin… i.e. I have a lucky bypass from Prof Peter Robless that is helping my internal organs survive because the aorta no longer transports/circulates blood.
Anyway, if you’re in Singapore, with aortic aneurysm and want to get in on the programme at NUH, Professors Kristine Teoh and Vitaly Sorokin will be on your team. Lucky you. 🙂
I watched this 2011 TED Talk and thought you would find it interesting.
Tal Golesworthy: How I repaired my own heart http://go.ted.com/qQVFVA
I’m sure technology will eventually catch up to help us repair weak muscles. Meanwhile, it’s just a matter of time and the era we live in.
I’ll be doomed already if I were born 100 years ago.
The Marfan One 