Tag Archives: Trinity Health Grand Rapids

Trinity Health vascular surgeons prevent life-threatening aortic aneurysm rupture

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Drs. Kosovec and Greenberg used an innovative new procedure that enables surgeons to provide care that is both effective and timely for complex aneurysm repair (Courtesy, pxhere.com)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


A West Michigan patient is on the road to recovery after two Trinity Health Grand Rapids surgeons successfully repaired a complex aortic aneurysm using a groundbreaking new procedure available at just a few sites in Michigan.

On November 18, Michelle Kosovec, MD, Section Chief, Vascular Surgery, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, and Joshua Greenberg, MD, Medical Director, Endovascular Services, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, completed a thoracoabdominal branch endoprosthesis repair of a complex aortic aneurysm.

The patient, a 61-year-old man, was discharged from the hospital a few days later and is doing well.

Complex surgical repair

Picture of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (Courtesy, UF Health)

The aorta is the largest artery in the body, and carries blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body.

A thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm is a bulging in the aorta that extends from the chest to the abdomen. Over time an aneurysm may grow, further weakening the wall of the aorta, or it can burst completely causing rupture, which is bleeding inside the body.

Surgery to repair the aneurysm significantly reduces the risk of an aneurysm rupture, which can be fatal.

However, this is often one of the most difficult aortic aneurysms to treat because there are important blood vessels that supply critical organs in this location, all of which are stented individually while relining the inside of the aorta to provide a seal.

The current standard of open surgical repair is complex and associated with a high rate of mortality and morbidity.

Using an innovative new procedure

For this patient, Drs. Kosovec and Greenberg used the GORE® EXCLUDER® Thoracoabdominal Branch Endoprosthesis (TAMBE), an innovative new procedure that enables surgeons to provide care that is both effective and timely for complex aneurysm repair.

“For these extensive aneurysms – those that span the chest and belly – we’re now able to treat them with this much more advanced device that supplies blood to the aorta, abdominal branch vessels and lower limbs,” said Dr. Kosovec. “For patients, it’s a much less invasive treatment option with potentially lower rates of surgical complications, blood loss and death, as well as shorter hospital stays, and a quicker recovery compared to open surgical repair.

“This is the biggest innovation in the last 10 years and our Grand Rapids team is one of just a few sites in the state that’s able to offer it.”

Resource link

Visit Trinity Health Michigan for more information about their cardiovascular care.

Jolly Old Saint NICU: Santa visits Trinity Health Grand Rapids NICU

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(Trinity Health Grand Rapids NICU)



By WKTV Staff

greer@wktv.org


Santa made a visit to the newest ‘nice list’ additions at the Trinity Health Grand Rapids Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Families are celebrating their first holiday season with their wrapped bundles of joy and Santa spreading holiday cheer.

“Having a child in the NICU is never part of a parent’s plan, and the holidays can add additional challenges,” said Kelly Wilcox, BSN, RN, C-EFM, clinical services manager of the Trinity Health Grand Rapids Birth Center. “Our NICU team is passionate about making this time of year special and memorable for these infants and their families however we can.”

The babies are not able to leave the hospital for a traditional first visit to Santa, so one of the NICU Cuddlers –– a specially trained volunteer who helps hold the NICU babies and provides extra support –– dressed up as Santa and visited, taking a photo with each baby.



(Trinity Health Grand Rapids NICU)



“It’s important for the babies and families to celebrate milestones, including their first holiday season,” said Michaela Behrens, RN, Trinity Health Grand Rapids NICU nurse. “Our nurses created fun costumes such as the gingerbread girl, Santa with milk and cookies, and perfectly swaddled presents topped with a bow. The joy it brings to the parents continues to inspire us to keep creating more each year.”

Trinity Health Grand Rapids NICU is a licensed 15-bed, Level III NICU, that cares for 200 to 300 newborns on the unit every year. We have successfully cared for babies born at 22 weeks gestation and weighing as little as 11 ounces. To learn more about our NICU services, visit our website.

NICU babies dress up for Halloween at Trinity Health Grand Rapids

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(Courtesy, Trinity Health)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


With Halloween days away, the tiniest patients at the Trinity Health Grand Rapids Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are ready to celebrate! Their Halloween costumes were all hand-made by NICU nurses to fit these tiny patients without disrupting their care and monitoring.

Though the babies are not able to go outside to trick-or-treat, dressing up in the costumes allowed families to experience a childhood milestone.

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About Trinity Health NICU

Trinity Health Grand Rapids NICU is a licensed 15-bed, Levell III NICU, that cares for 200 to 300 newborns on the unit every year. We have successfully cared for babies born at 22 weeks gestation and weighing as little as 11 ounces.

To learn more about Trinity Health Grand Rapids NICU services, visit their website.