AN ESHOLT man underwent a pioneering procedure after a scan revealed he needed emergency treatment for an aneurysm.

The Interventional Radiology Team at Calderdale and NHS Foundation Trust has performed Endovascular Aneurysm Repair without the need for any surgery in the groin for access.

This technique is pioneering as abdominal aortic aneurysms - life-threatening swelling of the main artery within the body - treated by EVAR usually require the groin to be opened by vascular surgeons before radiologists can introduce the stent under X-ray guidance.

Consultant Interventional Radiologist, Dr Chalam Viswanathan has performed more than 150 EVARs to date and he has now embarked on this new technique, where no surgery is required in the groin for access in order to place the stents.

He has performed one emergency and six planned EVARs of this type on patients in West Yorkshire.

One patient who has benefited from the technique is Bryan Owram, 83, who underwent the procedure as a real emergency.

The retired antiquarian bookseller attended A&E at the Bradford Royal Infirmary in agony, where a scan revealed the aneurysm.

The emergency vascular service was based at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary that weekend, so he underwent the procedure on the Sunday morning.

He said: “I was in agony and now I am so grateful.

“I couldn’t have a general anaesthetic so this procedure was perfect for me.

“There’s no seeing that anything has been done and I was able to go after four days.

“It has been a total success. The pain went straight away.”

The entire procedure is performed by the radiologist, with the stents inserted through an artery in the groin, which is accessed directly through the skin.

After placing the stents accurately, to protect and strengthen the site of the aneurysm to prevent it from bursting, the access point in the artery is then closed with a special technique which avoids the need for any surgery in the groin,

Dr Viswanathan said: “I am so glad we are able to offer this to our patients.

“This technique can be performed on patients who fit in a certain criteria.

“The patient has no surgical scar in the groin, recovery is fast and if they had it as an elective procedure they can potentially be discharged the next day.

“I would also like to thank Mr Anver Mohammed, consultant vascular surgeon, for all his moral support and his presence so that I could start this new service for the benefit of our patients.

“Surgical back up is very important.”

He also thanked his radiology staff, nurses, radiographers and helpers and said he was “extremely proud” to be a part of the team.