Aortic Aneurysm Surgeries

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What is aorta surgery?

Aorta surgery fixes issues with your aorta, the largest artery in your body. Your aorta, which connects to your heart, carries oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body. It goes all the way from your heart into your belly area.

With a high volume of blood flowing through your aorta, its walls can get weak and stretched out. This is an aneurysm. Also, high blood pressure can push the layers of your aorta wall apart, which is an aortic dissection.

These issues compromise your aorta’s ability to send blood with oxygen to your body’s cells and tissues. In some cases, the damage is life-threatening.

When do you need aorta surgery?

Our team will recommend surgery on an aneurysm if it’s growing about a half-inch in diameter a year. The timing of surgery for a slow-growing aneurysm varies. However, many surgeons operate when an aneurysm is 5 to 5.5 cms because dissections and ruptures are more likely at about 6 cms.

You will need aortic surgery before your aortic wall is in danger of breaking. When your aorta wall gets too stretched out, that can lead to aortic dissection.

Many diseases and conditions can cause your aorta to dilate (widen) or can cause aortic dissection (tear), increasing your risk for future life-threatening events. Conditions that can lead to aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection include:

  • Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure).
  • Genetic conditions (such as Marfan syndrome).
  • Connective tissue disorders.
  • Injury.

Aorta surgery treats multiple types of aortic aneurysms (weakened, bulging artery walls in your aorta). An aneurysm can develop anywhere along your aorta, such as:

  • In the part that runs through your abdomen (abdominal aortic aneurysms).
  • In your chest (thoracic aortic aneurysms). These can involve your aortic root (the section of the aorta that’s attached to your heart), ascending aorta, aortic arch or descending aorta.
  • In both your abdomen and chest (thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms).

Aorta surgery also treats aortic dissection, or the separation of your aorta wall’s layers. Blood flows through a tear in the inner layer of your aorta. This is a life-threatening condition.

People born with rare heart conditions like coarctation (narrowing) of the aorta or transposition (reversal) of the great arteries also need aorta surgery.

Others need surgery for a problem with their aortic valve.

The following are the types of aortic surgeries performed by our team of experts:

Aortic Root Replacement, also called a modified Bentall procedure, is what we typically use to treat aneurysmal disease of the aortic root, aortic root abscess, and acute and chronic aortic dissections. We use mechanical or bioprosthetic (made of bovine or porcine material) valve conduits, which are particularly long-lasting).

Aortic Arch Replacement, also known as a trifurcated graft technique or elephant trunk stage I, is appropriate if you have aneurysmal disease of the aortic arch, mycotic (infected) aneurysm, chronic atheroembolism, or chronic aortic dissection.

Distal Aortic Arch and/or Descending Aorta Replacement (elephant trunk stage II) is effectivefor aneurysmal disease of the descending aorta, chronic aortic dissection, coarctation, and hypoplasia.

Thoracoabdominal Aorta Replacement is a procedure commonly performed for aneurysmal disease of the descending aorta, and chronic aortic dissection.

Valve-Sparing Aortic Root Replacement (David or Yacoub procedure) is effective in treating aneurysmal disease of the ascending and aortic root, acute and chronic aortic dissections, bicuspid aortic valve disease, and Marfan’s disease. This procedure allows us to conserve the native aortic valve and avoid anticoagulation issues.

Descending Aorta Replacement is an effective treatment for aneurysmal disease of the descending aorta, chronic aortic dissection, coarctation, and hypoplasia. We use endovascular stenting on aneurysmal disease of the aorta.

Endovascular means that your surgeon performs your operation inside your body using thin, long tubes called catheters. Through small incisions in your groin, your provider uses the catheters to guide a stent graft through the blood vessels to the site of your aneurysm.

Our team of experts perform open, endovascular and hybrid procedures as when required. With our seasoned team of surgeons, perfusionists, anesthesiologists, and nurses, we provide all the elements needed to safely treat and care for patients with aortic diseases.