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Aortic Disease Treatment
Get world-class aortic disease treatment close to home at Henry Ford Health. Our multispecialty Aortic Disease Program is one of the most experienced in the nation. We bring together leaders in cardiology, heart surgery and vascular surgery to deliver the best possible long-term outcomes to you.
Why choose Henry Ford for aortic aneurysm treatment?
We have a decades-long track record of providing exceptional care for all types of aortic diseases. Our specialists are known throughout Michigan, and the region, for their ability to treat challenging conditions using the latest techniques.
Highlights of our Aortic Disease Program include:
- High-volume center: High-volume aortic surgery centers have lower mortality rates and deliver better outcomes. We are one of the busiest aortic surgery programs in the U.S. Our patient volumes are in the top 1 percent nationally. This depth of experience is hard to find elsewhere.
- Aortic disease pioneers: More than 30 years ago, we were the first in Michigan to perform endovascular aneurysm repair. Our specialists continue to innovate by developing new minimally invasive techniques using the latest stent-grafts (implants to repair aneurysms and dissections).
- Care for complex conditions: We offer challenging procedures not widely available, such as thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair and re-operative aortic arch surgery. Our surgical capabilities are unmatched in the region. Physicians across Michigan refer their most complicated cases to our team.
- Latest research: We contribute to patient registries such as the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissections and the Vascular Quality Initiative. Sharing our outcomes with other hospitals and research centers ensures we stay at the forefront of aortic disease treatment and continually improve the safety and quality of your care.
Personalized aortic care
We offer lifelong care to help you manage aortic diseases and prevent serious complications. Our team considers many factors when selecting the right treatment for your needs, including your age, lifestyle and overall health.
Lifestyle changes and medication for aortic disease
If you have a low-risk aortic disease, such as a small aneurysm, you may not need treatment right away. We do active surveillance, meaning we monitor your condition with periodic imaging scans to make sure it doesn’t worsen.
Your cardiologist may recommend lifestyle changes to slow the progression of aortic disease, such as:
- Eat foods low in cholesterol, saturated fat and sodium
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Quit smoking
- Stay physically active
Medications we prescribe for aortic diseases may include:
- Beta blockers to lower blood pressure
- Blood thinners to prevent clots and reduce the risk of stroke
- Statins to control high cholesterol
Aortic dissection and aortic aneurysm surgery
Our surgical expertise includes both open and minimally invasive techniques. We discuss the risks and benefits of each type of procedure with you before making a recommendation. Whenever possible, we choose the least invasive approach so you can enjoy a faster, less painful recovery.
Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR)
EVAR is a minimally invasive treatment for aortic aneurysms and some aortic dissections. We may recommend EVAR if you have an aneurysm that is growing quickly or at risk for rupturing (bursting).
We access your aorta by inserting a catheter (thin, flexible tube) through a small incision or needle puncture in your groin or chest. We place a stent-graft (mesh tube) to reinforce the weakened part of your aorta. EVAR offers an alternative to open surgery for high-risk patients.
Learn more about the types of endovascular aneurysm repair we offer.
Open aortic surgery
Open aortic surgery may be necessary if you have an aneurysm or dissection that is large or difficult to reach. We access your aorta through an incision in your chest or abdomen. Your surgeon removes the damaged part of your aorta and sews a synthetic surgical graft into place.
Our heart surgeons perform some of the most difficult open aortic surgeries available. They replace portions of the ascending aorta, aortic arch and thoracoabdominal aorta that have branches supplying blood to vital organs.
Learn more about our expertise in open aortic surgery.
Hybrid aortic repair
Our extensive surgical capabilities allow us to combine open and endovascular techniques in a single procedure, called hybrid repair. Heart surgeons, vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists work together to treat patients who may not be candidates for a fully open procedure. Hybrid procedures may also benefit patients with aortic disease and other heart problems, such as heart valve disease or coronary artery disease.
We perform these procedures in our state-of-the-art hybrid operating room (OR). This OR is equipped with the latest imaging technology, such as a CT scanner, that helps guide surgery in real time.
Take the next step
Request an appointment with a member of our aortic disease team or use one of the numbers below:
- Detroit or southeast Michigan: (844) 725-6424
- Jackson or south central Michigan: (517) 205-1305
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What is aortic disease?
As the largest artery, the aorta carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to smaller arteries that supply the rest of the body. Conditions that affect the aorta, such as aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections, can be life threatening.
Treatment for aortic disease begins with a thorough evaluation for an accurate diagnosis. Find out more about our process and advanced technologies for aortic disease diagnosis.
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Medical management for aortic disease
In the early stages of aortic disease, you may need only medications and monitoring to manage symptoms and prevent the condition from worsening. Working closely with you, we customize a medical management program to your needs.
Our vascular medicine specialists and vascular surgeons select medications based on your specific symptoms and other health needs. Our vascular team and cardiologists monitor you regular intervals to make sure the medications are working and adjust them as necessary.
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Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR)
Henry Ford vascular surgeons were the first in Michigan to perform endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), which goes inside the aorta to treat aneurysms. Since 1994, our team of aortic disease experts has used this minimally invasive procedure to help people from across Michigan.
Using catheters (thin, flexible tubes), our vascular surgeons expertly place wire mesh and fabric inside your lower (abdominal) aorta to support the aneurysm. This implant, called a stent graft, forms a tight seal with the aorta, allowing blood to flow through without bursting the aneurysm. Learn more about EVAR.
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Fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR)
Henry Ford vascular surgeons were among the first in Michigan to perform FEVAR, a form of EVAR that can treat abdominal aortic aneurysms above the kidneys. The procedure uses a stent graft with openings (fenestrations) that are customized to your anatomy, accommodating arteries that branch off the aorta.
FEVAR makes endovascular treatment possible in areas of the aorta where it can be difficult to place stents. Read more about FEVAR.
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Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR)
Like EVAR and FEVAR, TEVAR is a minimally invasive catheter procedure that reinforces aortic aneurysms with stent grafts. Our vascular surgeons use TEVAR to treat thoracic aortic aneurysms, which develop in the upper aorta in the chest. They also use it for some types of aortic dissections.
TEVAR features stents with openings (fenestrations) and branches to accommodate arteries connected to the aorta. Find out more about TEVAR.
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Valve-sparing aortic root replacement
This procedure treats aneurysms in the aortic root, the section of the aorta that connects to the heart. Our vascular and cardiac surgeons work together during both minimally invasive procedures and open surgeries. They replace diseased sections of your aorta while preserving your aortic valve.
If your aortic valve also has damage, we can repair it or replace it with a bioprosthetic (animal tissue) valve. Our valve-sparing procedure eliminates the ongoing need to take blood thinners after surgery and can reduce the risk of stroke.
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Aortic arch replacement
Aneurysms and dissections can affect the aortic arch, a hairpin-curved section of the aorta near the heart. With branching arteries that carry blood to the head, arms and upper body, the aortic arch is a complex structure that can be difficult to treat.
Our skilled vascular surgeons and cardiac surgeons work together to replace portions of the arch or the entire structure. Aortic arch surgery is an open operation that uses stent grafts with multiple branches to accommodate other connected arteries.