The Background

The ExoVasc^® Personalised External Aortic Root Support was the brainchild of Tal Golesworthy, who has Marfan syndrome.

After 10 years of echocardiograms to monitor his ascending aorta, Tal was advised that he needed surgery to reduce the risk of aortic dissection.

However, the standard options open to him, a Bentall graft or valve sparing surgery, did not appeal. Both were major surgical procedures and the Bentall graft required a lifetime on anticoagulant drugs.

As a chartered engineer with a lifetime in research and development engineering, Tal had the skills and knowledge needed to develop a new approach to stabilising the ascending aorta. So that is exactly what he did.

The development of the ExoVasc^®: a timeline

March 2000

Tal attends a Marfan Association Information day to listen to a presentation by Professor Tom Treasure on aortic surgery. At the end of the presentation, Tal engages Professor Treasure in discussions on alternatives.

December 2000

Tal produces a costed work proposal for the project and Imperial College is invited to participate in the development by providing assistance with the computer aided design (CAD) work.

January 2001

Professor John Pepper is invited into the project.

March 2001

Tal starts to raise finance for the project.

August 2002

With funding in place, Tal and Imperial College start engineering work.

January 2003

Permission is granted by the Local Research & Ethics Committee for a clinical trial at the Royal Brompton Hospital.

May 2004

Professor Pepper implants the first ExoVasc^® in Tal, who is 47 years old at the time.

June 2009

After successful implantation of the ExoVasc^® support in 19 patients, the Clinical Practice Committee at the Royal Brompton Hospital approves the device for use in the treatment of suitable patients with a dilated aorta due to Marfan syndrome.

June 2010

University Z Leuven becomes a surgical centre. The surgical lead is Professor Filip Rega.

May 2011

Following a consultation process, NICE issues full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on External aortic root support in Marfan syndrome in May 2011. To read the guidance visit http://guidance.nice.org.uk/IPG394.

December 2011

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust (formerly Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre) becomes a surgical centre. The surgical lead is Mr Mario Petrou.

January 2012

St Guy's and St Thomas’s NHS Trust becomes a surgical centre. The surgical lead is Mr Conal Austin.

May 2012

The ExoVasc^® Personalised External Aortic Root Support project celebrates its eighth anniversary with thirty patients having had the implant fitted.