Using a Gore Tag Endograft the two doctors repaired a torn aorta without resorting to open heart surgery. It marked the first time the procedure has been performed in Montana.

Dick McKamey and wife Liisa live in Wyoming. On May 6th they ended up in St. Vincent when a task around the house went wrong. McKamey had climbed onto a 24-foot ladder laid up against his home. "Apparently the latch or lock wasn't right and when I got to the top, it decided to come undone."

Among other injuries, he tore his aorta, only 10% survive such an injury. The hospital in Wyoming flew him to St. Vincent Healthcare where they called in doctors Joe Dillard and Barry Winton.

Dr. Barry Winton, a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon says, "In the past this would have been a major surgery." But two years ago a new procedure where they insert an endovascular stent through a small incision in the groin was approved to treat aneurysms. Having done those surgeries in the past, the doctors applied the procedure to McKamey's injury.

Joe Dillard, an interventional radiologist says, "Currently in Montana Dr. Winton and I are the only physicians prepared to preform the procedure in an emergency basis." Doctors say the benefits of this alternative to open heart surgery are numerous. "You avoid a major incision, that causes a lot of pain. There are a lot of complications, the most devastating is paralysis." says Winton.

McKamey also recovered much faster than if he would have had open heart surgery. The recovery time is about 2 weeks, compared to 2-to-3 months. "To see a patient sitting up in bed completely recovered compared to what used to be a tremendous operation is just astounding." says Dillard.

"Somebody took care of me, to survive and have the right circumstances to end up here." While McKamey still has a cast on from other injuries, he says his recovery is going well. The cost of an endovascular stent procedure is about $25,000 dollars, which is about the same as open heart surgery.