Aortic Disease

The Comprehensive Aortic Disease Program, established more than 25 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. Our multidisciplinary team includes experts from cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, interventional radiology and diagnostic radiology. Collaboration among specialists and shared decisionmaking between patients and surgeons on timing and approach for aortic surgery are key to our excellent patient outcomes.

MI-AORTA, a recent initiative launched with generous donor support, aids the growth of our highly regarded aortic disease clinical practice, training and research program into a world-renowned enterprise. Within our aortitis center to treat inflammatory and autoimmune conditions of the aorta, we launched a new noninvasive diagnostic program using novel large vessel ultrasound techniques to identify giant cell arteritis, sparing the need for surgical biopsy; our vascular lab is one of only a few labs in the U.S. offering these studies. MI-AORTA facilitates collaboration within U-M Health, creates value for patients, and allows us to continue to pioneer advanced therapies for aortic disease.

From medical management to minimally invasive endovascular and open surgical procedures, our specialists treat the full spectrum of aortic disease. Frankel CVC surgeons are among the world’s leading experts in bicuspid aortic valve disease and aortic root disease. Our unique hybrid endovascular/surgical approach, developed here to treat complicated and chronic aortic dissection yields better patient outcomes and allows us to deliver mortality rates among the lowest in the country

HIGH PERFORMANCE RECOGNITION FOR ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM REPAIR

1,200 AORTIC AND AORTIC VALVE PROCEDURES EACH YEAR

HIGH VOLUME OF INNOVATIVE TREATMENTS TRANSLATES TO EXCELLENT OUTCOMES

TYPE A AORTIC DISSECTION OPERATIVE MORTALITY SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN NATIONAL BENCHMARK 10.1% vs. 14.8%

EVAR AND ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM MORTALITY OUTCOMES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN PUBLISHED GUIDELINES

7 MINIMALLY INVASIVE AORTIC-RELATED TRIALS

Our vascular surgeons use novel methods to extend the treatment of complex aortic aneurysms through 3D printing, physician-modified endografts, and ongoing enrollment in clinical trials of thoracoabdominal aneurysm stent grafts. Faculty are experts at salvaging failing endografts through management of endoleaks and extension of endografts through the aortic branches. Our aortic specialists were the first in the U.S. to implant the newly FDA-approved GORE TAG single side branch thoracic stent endograft.

We offer genetic screening and counseling 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 affect aortic disease.

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 — including seven current minimally invasive aortic-related trials — gives patients access to leading-edge care which would not otherwise be an option.

For information about our many active clinical trials, visit UMHealthResearch.org.