Treatment for Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (TAA)

Treatment for Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (TAA)

Specific treatment will be determined by your physician based on:

• Your age, overall health, and medical history
• Extent of the disease
• Your signs and symptoms
• Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• Expectations for the course of the disease
• Your opinion or preference

Surgical treatment options for thoracic aortic aneurysms

Thoracic aortic aneurysm open repair

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR)

Non-surgical treatment options for thoracic aortic aneurysms

• Controlling or modifying risk factors: Steps such as quitting smoking, controlling blood sugar if diabetic, losing weight if overweight or obese, and controlling dietary fat intake may help to control the progression of the aneurysm
• Medication: To control factors such as hyperlipidemia (elevated levels of fats in the blood) and/or high blood pressure

Stanford has an international reputation for the treatment of patients suffering from thoracic aortic diseases and has made numerous significant contributions in this area, including:

• The advent of hypothermic circulatory arrest for aortic arch and other aortic procedures
• Surgical treatment (and classification) of acute and chronic aortic dissections
• A multidisciplinary approach for treatment of Marfan syndrome and associated connective tissue disorders.
• Development of endovascular stent graft procedures for treatment of thoracic aortic disease.

Our work in thoracic aortic surgery is led by an integrated team of specialists from:

• Cardiovascular surgery
• Interventional radiology
• Advanced cardiovascular imaging
  

The specific services available to your patients suffering from aortic diseases include:

• Repair of acute aortic dissections
• Surgical treatment of chronic aortic dissections and aneurysms
• Aortic valve-sparing aortic root replacement operation
• Use of endovascular stent grafts for the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections
• Interventional catheter-based treatment of complications of aortic dissection
• Percutaneous endovascular stent graft repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms: A method of reinforcing an aneurysm in the aorta using a stent, which is a tube made of metal mesh or coil. The stent helps prevent the aneurysm from bursting.

Asymptomatic aneurysms may not require surgical intervention until they reach a certain size or are noted to be increasing in size over a certain period of time. Parameters considered when making surgical decisions include:

• Aneurysm size greater than 5.5 to 6 centimeters (greater than two inches)
• Aneurysm growth rate 0.5 centimeters (slightly less than one-fourth inch) over a period of six months to one year
• Presence of genetic disorders or familial history of thoracic aneurysms
• Patient's ability to tolerate the procedure
• For symptomatic aneurysms, immediate intervention is indicated