New aortic dissection repair therapy gives Shannon additional protection
Shannon Jussila was playing piano at her church’s Sunday school program when she felt a strange tearing sensation go right down her chest.
“I finished up and went to sit with my family in the pew, but then I couldn’t stand back up,” she said, describing feeling like something had washed down her body.
Her husband, Brian, took her to the hospital just a few blocks away in Virginia, Minn.
After several tests, a hospital staff member found Brian with urgent news: Shannon needed major surgery they couldn’t perform there. A helicopter was on the way to take her to M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center (UMMC) in Minneapolis. Then came the question no spouse wants to hear –would he like to see the chaplain?
Brian stayed level-headed enough to make the three-hour drive to Minneapolis.
“I was told to behave myself and drive well because they would take care of her and didn't need two of us in emergency surgery that day,” he said.
Shannon’s care team kept Brian informed the whole way. Rosemary Kelly, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon with M Health Fairview and professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School, was on call and ready when Shannon arrived.
A new therapy for aortic dissection
The large artery that directs blood carrying blood from Shannon’s heart to the rest of her body had torn, a condition called aortic dissection. Without quick treatment, it can be fatal.
Aortic dissection can happen suddenly– even to people who receive regular preventive healthcare. Recognizing the signs and calling 911 quickly is critical, said Surgical Director of the Aortic Center at UMMC Stephen Huddleston, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon with M Health Fairview and associate professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Aortic dissection isn’t common, but most often affects men over 60. High blood pressure increases risk. Symptoms are frequently described as sudden, severe chest pain. Like Shannon, some people might feel an odd tearing sensation in their chest followed by difficulty walking.
Shannon, who walked 10,000 steps a day, had no indication of a weakness in her aorta. But Dr. Kelly said it only takes a minute of high blood pressure for the artery lining to tear.
The right place for aorta care
While Brian was driving to Minneapolis, Dr. Kelly repaired Shannon’s aortic artery, using a newly approved device. M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center is the largest center in the Upper Midwest for aortic dissection care.
“At UMMC, we have a robust team and always have two cardiac surgeons on call,” Dr. Kelly said. “The team performed more than 50 repairs last year and is a top institution nationally.”
Because of that volume, UMMC keeps the AMDS hybrid prosthesis on hand. It's an additional layer of treatment used alongside standard surgical repair. It helps direct blood flow into the true lumen as opposed to through the tear, supports the aortic walls as they heal and reduces the development of a future aneurysm.
Aortic artery repair is a high-risk, open-chest procedure, but M Health Fairview survival rates exceed the national average.
“We have great outcomes and better survival," Huddleston said. “The national average is around 85% or so and we're over 90% survival.”
Back home with her family
What could have ended Shannon’s life is now just slowing her down temporarily.
She spent 10 days in the hospital and was released on Christmas Eve. Now she’s completing cardiac rehab along with physical and occupational therapy – and progressing faster than expected
Shannon is looking forward to getting back to playing piano, hiking, and snowshoeing with Brian and their dogs. She’s also planning Grandma and Grandpa Daycare, the family’s nickname for summer break with the grandkids.
Several factors worked in Shannon’s favor: She was close to a hospital when symptoms began, the emergency team quickly assessed the situation and called for air transport, and Shannon landed at a hospital with both the AMDS device and the expertise to implant it.
“I can truly see God’s hand throughout,” Shannon said. “From where I was when it happened to how everything fell into place afterward. I feel truly blessed.”
