{"id":7788,"date":"2025-09-07T20:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T20:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7788"},"modified":"2025-09-07T20:30:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T20:30:00","slug":"vascular-surgeons-use-innovative-device-for-veteran-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7788","title":{"rendered":"Vascular surgeons use innovative device for Veteran care"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2025-09-07T20:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

Vascular surgeons at the Houston VA Medical Center <\/a>recently used a cutting-edge surgical device, Zenith Branch Iliac Bifurcation (ZBIS), to treat iliac and aortoiliac artery aneurysms. Doctors Besma Nejim and Natasha Hansraj, along with the vascular surgery<\/a> team, successfully performed the procedure on Navy Veteran Clifford Brock earlier this month.<\/p>\n

The minimally invasive new device, approved by the FDA in July, is designed to treat aortoiliac and iliac aneurysms while preserving blood flow to the internal iliac artery. The iliac artery is one of the large arteries that carry blood from the abdominal aorta into the pelvis and pelvic organs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cVeterans with these types of aneurysms often face significant risks, including clot formation and potential ruptures, which can lead to severe complications,\u201d Nejim said. \u201cThe new ZBIS graft not only addresses these risks but also enhances the quality of life for patients\u2014offering durable aneurysm repair and maintaining internal iliac function.\u201d<\/p>\n

A challenging journey<\/h2>\n

For Brock, the journey to recovery was particularly challenging. He had successful surgery in 2010 to fix an aneurysm, but having lost his wife to a brain aneurysm in 1988, he was understandably apprehensive last year upon learning about his two additional aneurysms. \u201cWhen the doctors told me about this new device, I was thrilled,\u201d he said. \u201cIt felt like a second chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following the procedure, Brock said he is doing \u201cgreat.\u201d He is now able to get around much better, enjoying outings with his son and incorporating walking into his routine for exercise. \u201cI feel much better,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Nejim has a special passion for providing exceptional patient care and advancing medical knowledge.\u00a0She said Veterans often have complex medical histories that make surgeries especially challenging.\u00a0\u201cAdding the ZBIS to our surgical toolbox will save lives,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Initially deemed too ill for surgery in Seattle due to multiple health issues and prior aneurysm repairs, Brock\u2019s situation changed after Houston VA\u2019s vascular team treated him for six months before the surgery, helping him get in optimal health for the surgery.\u00a0VA\u2019s multidisciplinary approach with vascular medicine helped optimize Brock\u2019s condition so he could safely undergo the surgery.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt VA, we are committed to using the best and latest innovation while caring for our Veterans,\u201d said Hansraj.\u00a0\u201cThis new technology not only enhances our ability to treat Veterans, but it also reflects our ongoing promise to honor the sacrifices of those who have served in our military.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An innovative new device improves surgical outcomes for Veterans.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":339,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-health-care"],"yoast_head":"\nVascular surgeons use innovative device for Veteran care - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"An innovative new device improves surgical outcomes for Veterans.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7788\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Vascular surgeons use innovative device for Veteran care - 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