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AORTIC Disease
The Comprehensive Aortic Program, established more than 30 years ago, is one of the largest practices in North America, with specialists providing unparalleled expertise in advanced open and endovascular procedures to treat aortic disease, and cutting-edge basic science and clinical research on aortic disease.
EXPERT MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM for the management of aortic disease
Cardiac surgeons
Vascular surgeons
Interventional radiologists
Diagnostic radiologists
Basic scientists
Interventional cardiologists
Medical cardiologists
Medical geneticists
Biomedical engineers
In 2022, the MI-AORTA Program was established with generous donor support. The program aids the growth of our highly regarded aortic disease clinical practice, training and research program into a worldrenowned enterprise.
Collaboration among multidisciplinary specialists and shared decision making between patients and surgeons on timing and approach for aortic surgery are key to our excellent patient outcomes.
We are a longtime partner of the international non-profit Marfan Foundation, dedicated to addressing genetic aortic and vascular conditions, including Marfan, LoeysDietz, and Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. Frankel CVC co-hosts local community walks and supports international educational symposiums alongside the Marfan Foundation, to educate providers, patients and families, and drive cures for genetic aortic and vascular conditions.
THE FRANKEL CVC DIFFERENCE
DIAGNOSIS, IMAGING AND NOVEL RESEARCH DIRECTIONS
To treat aortitis (inflammatory and autoimmune conditions of the aorta), our noninvasive diagnostic program uses novel ultra-high frequency large vessel ultrasound techniques to identify giant cell arteritis, sparing the need for surgical biopsy. We are one of only a few vascular labs in the U.S. offering these studies.
We offer genetic counseling and testing to help patients and their families understand their risk for aortic disease and collaborate with international research consortiums focused on identifying and understanding genetic mutations that contribute to aortic disease.
Collaboration with U-M Biomedical Engineering on “flow modeling” provides computational flow patterns using supercomputer capabilities, analyses that can only be done at a few institutions.
U-M researchers developed the first thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) model using patient-induced pluripotent stem cells to uncover the mechanism of TAA and develop novel medical therapy for prevention of aortic aneurysm.
Our researchers are using genetic sequencing to identify new genes associated with or causing aortic aneurysm.
TREATMENTS
From medical management to minimally invasive endovascular and open surgical procedures, our specialists treat the full spectrum of aortic disease.
We have expertise in complex redo aortic root and aortic arch procedures for failed prior operations.
Our Ross procedure specialists treat young patients with aortic valve disease who want lifelong valve correction without anticoagulation medications.
The Y-incision aortic annular/root enlargement, developed here at U-M, treats patients with aortic valve disease, providing optimal blood flow and improving long-term survival.
We are leading experts in aortic valve repair for aortic insufficiency in bicuspid or tricuspid valve disease and valve sparing aortic root repair for aortic root aneurysm.
We use novel 3D printing to treat complex aortic aneurysms enabling physician-modified endografts.
Our aortic specialists were the first in the U.S. to implant the FDA-approved GORE® TAG® single side branch thoracic stent endograft.
Our experts salvage failing endografts through management of endoleaks and extension of endografts through the aortic branches.
Novel laser fenestration of aortic dissections developed at U-M allows the least invasive TEVAR approaches to treat chronic aortic dissection, yielding mortality rates among the lowest in the country
NOVEL CLINICAL TRIALS
Our world-renowned researchers, funded by the NIH and other entities, are advancing the science of aortic disease evolution and progression, resulting in critical breakthroughs in understanding the pathophysiology that may lead to treatments without the need for surgery. Participation in clinical trials gives patients access to leading-edge care which would not otherwise be an option.
19 aortic- or aortic valve-related clinical trials, including:
• Novel stent graft trials:
GORE ARISE II – Ascending stent
ZFEN+ – Complex abdominal/thoracoabdominal
IMPROVE-AD – Acute type B dissections
TRIOMPHE – Branched arch stent graft trial
• Avalus Ultra Trial – A study to evaluate the performance of a bioprosthetic valve with novel design to prepare for future valve-in-valve TAVR.
For information about our many active clinical trials, visit UMHealthResearch.org.
EXCELLENT OUTCOMES of open repair of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm
TYPE A AORTIC DISSECTION OPERATIVE MORTALITY Significantly lower than national benchmark: 8.6% vs 14.8%
>1,300 AORTIC AND AORTIC VALVE PROCEDURES EACH YEAR High volume of innovative treatments translates to excellent outcomes.
U-M developed novel aortic annular/root enlargement techniques to provide larger valves for BETTER BLOOD FLOW AND LIFETIME MANAGEMENT IN 60–70% OF PATIENTS compared to only 3–5% across the nation.
