Lombard's Altura EVAR Device Launched in Europe

February 4, 2016—Lombard Medical, Inc. announced the first commercial procedure using the Altura endovascular stent graft for the endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Lombard Medical launched the Altura endograft system at LINC 2016, the Leipzig Interventional Course held January 26–29 in Leipzig, Germany. An international rollout is planned in late 2016.

The case was performed at University Hospital of South Manchester (UHSM) in the United Kingdom. UHSM is a major EVAR center within the National Health System servicing more than 180 EVAR patients annually, noted the company.

In Lombard Medical’s announcement, Jonathan Ghosh, MD, Consultant Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon at UHSM, commented, “EVAR is the standard of care for patients requiring intervention for AAA. The new Altura stent graft from Lombard significantly simplifies what can be a complex procedure while offering increased accuracy and control in stent graft deployment.”

Dare Sereki, MD, Consultant Vascular Interventional Radiologist at UHSM, added, “We are now able to perform same-day aortic aneurysm repair, and the new Altura device should benefit both the patient and hospital with its 14-F ultra-low profile design, predictable procedure times, and greatly reduced inventory requirements.”

Lombard describes the Altura endograft system, which has received European CE Mark approval, as offering a simple and predictable solution for the treatment of more standard AAA anatomies compared with the company’s Aorfix endovascular stent graft, which has global regulatory approval and is designed to treat patients with the broadest range of AAA anatomies, including aortic neck angulations up to 90º.

On January 27, the Altura device was featured in a live clinical case presented at the LINC conference. In the live case, Andrej Schmidt, MD, successfully treated a AAA patient at the Leipzig University Hospital.

In the company’s press release, Dr. Schmidt commented, “From a physician’s perspective the Altura endograft greatly simplifies procedural planning due to its unique design and sizing options. The device is very easy to use, can be repositioned, requires no time consuming cannulation, and is delivered through a 14 F ultra-low profile delivery catheter.”