Thoracic Aortic Disease

Thoracic Aortic Graft

BMC's Cardiovascular Center offers a minimally invasive procedure to treat patients with aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta.

Palma Shaw, MD, co-director of Endovascular Surgery at BMC and assistant professor of surgery at BUSM uses the GORE TAG Thoracic Endoprosthesis to provide a complete, minimally invasive endovascular approach to arterial disease affecting the aorta and its branches.

Unlike traditional treatments for diseases of the thoracic aorta, which often involve a large chest incision and a synthetic graft to repair the diseased artery, the GORE TAG can be inserted via a small incision in the patient's groin. The surgeon then guides the stent graft into the diseased area, where it internally relines the thoracic aorta and isolates the diseased segment from blood circulation.

"The GORE TAG is a welcome alternative to open-heart surgery for the repair of an aortic aneurysm," said Dr. Shaw. "This minimally invasive procedure has a proven safety and efficacy record, and is an outstanding addition to the range of treatment options we can present to patients."

Consistent with its multidisciplinary tradition, cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons collaboratively evaluate patients with aneurysms of the descending aorta, which provides patients access to state-of-the-art treatment options at the Cardiovascular Center

For more information, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Shaw, call (617) 414-6840. A multidisciplinary team will evaluate each patient to determine the best treatment option.