Patient Name
Martin Hilton
Product(s)
Gelweave
Condition
Acute Type A Dissection
Martin Hilton
From Iron Man to Bionic Man
Martin Hilton visited Terumo Aortic Glasgow with his wife Fiona in December 2025, as part of our annual Patients Day celebration.
We interviewed Martin about his experience with aortic dissection and the impact of his visit to our site after the event. It was a great opportunity not only for Martin to reflect on his experience, but for our Associates to have that all important reminder that the products we make here at Terumo Aortic are saving lives of real people like Martin, and the amazing impact that has on countless numbers of people.
Martin now refers to himself as the Bionic Man, after receiving a Gelweave™ Ante-Flo in 2020 following a Type A Aortic Dissection, only a few months after completing an Ironman triathlon challenge in Italy 2019. Unlike most previous patients we have interviewed, Martin did not feel pain at the time of his aortic dissection. While he was out a lunch time run with Fiona around the time of the first covid lockdown, Martin experienced an unusual feeling.
I felt a really strange sensation in my chest, it wasn’t painful, it just felt like really strong indigestion, and it just felt weird. I kind of knew not to keep running, in a bizarre way. We managed to walk most of the way back, but it was getting a bit tough towards the end so one of our daughters came to pick us up...”
Martin praises the ambulance service who then quickly took him to the hospital, and the doctors who discovered he was having an aortic dissection. Martin acknowledges that 2000 people per year lose their lives from aortic dissection in the UK, “without an observant consultant and incredible surgery I would not be here today. Not everyone is as lucky as us.” Martin shares that the most difficult part of his recovery was the mental aspect and was grateful to recover physically relatively quickly. Not long after his operation he was able to return to work, driving, and training for his next physical challenge.
Disclaimer
The content, discussion and opinions expressed on this page are those of the patient and may not be reflective of the approved indications for use of the device, which may also differ by region. The physician and patient must discuss and consider the most appropriate individual treatment option with associated benefits and risks. Please consult eifu.terumoaortic.com for product indications, contraindications and warnings/precautions.Careers at Terumo Aortic
