When Anthony Tomaselli, a 77-year-old Toms River resident, had some routine medical tests last September, he got the shock of his life.  A CAT scan revealed an abdominal aneurysm, a weakened area in his aorta that could rupture at any time, causing massive and fatal blood loss. 

Tests also showed that Tony had narrowing of the coronary arteries, a condition that put him at serious risk for a heart attack and made open surgical intervention dangerous. Tony's son knew a doctor at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, and got him an appointment with the Chief of Cardiology, Dr. Richard Goldweit.  Because Tony’s problem involved both his heart and his major blood vessels Dr. Goldweit consulted with Dr. Arisan Ergin, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery; Dr. Herbert Dardik, Chief of Surgery and vascular surgeon; and Dr. Theresa Impeduglia, also a vascular surgeon.

“We realized that both Tony’s cardiac and vascular issues needed to be addressed immediately,” notes Dr. Goldweit. “However, based on his age and medical history, Tony was at high risk for two major surgical procedures.” After reviewing computerized imagery of both Tony’s heart and his aneurysm, all four doctors conferred with one another and determined Tony would be best treated utilizing advanced, non-invasive, surgical techniques. 

First, Dr. Goldweit worked to restore optimal blood flow to Tony’s heart by inserting coronary stents -- small mesh tubes -- into the arteries to keep them open.  All this was accomplished through a tiny puncture in the artery in Tony’s groin, thereby ensuring a rapid recovery.  This meant that Tony would be ready to undergo his second procedure without delay.

Then, Doctors Dardik and Impeduglia utilized computer-guided imagery to guide another specialized stent up Tony’s femoral artery into the area with the aneurysm.  By relieving the pressure on the damaged arterial wall, the stent would avert a fatal rupture. “The procedure was complex due to the patient’s severely narrowed arteries,” recalls Dr. Dardik. “This necessitated creatively diverting blood flow in order to maintain optimum circulation in both of Tony’s legs and guarantee him a full recovery.”

Tony was back home and able to resume his job as a security guard in less than a week.  Although he will need to follow a fitness routine and proper diet to avoid future problems, he credits his full and miraculous recovery to the collective experience and teamwork of the doctors at Englewood Hospital.