Department Name

In close collaboration with the Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Florida has one of the largest programs in the country in the endovascular repair of thoracic aortic diseases, specializing in aneurysms and dissections.   We are a participating center in a number of clinical trials investigating new technologies, including the Cook TX2 and the Medtronic Valiant thoracic endograft systems. Patients are carefully screened and those who meet anatomic eligibility criteria are encouraged to enroll in the clinical trial. The procedure is performed in a state-of-the-art endovascular suite.  It involves a single, small incision in one groin and a needle puncture in the other.

(Left) UF Endovascular Suite. (Right) 3D_CT image of
a typical thoracic aortic aneurysm.

(Left) Endograft is partially deployed in the thoracic aorta. (Right) 3D-CT reconstruction of a completed repair.

Using a combination of wires and catheters, a stent graft is delivered into the thoracic aorta and excludes the aneurysm from the circulation. The hospital course usually involves 1 day in the intensive care unit and 1 or 2 additional days in the hospital. Thereafter, recovery is similar to other minimally invasive endovascular aneurysm repairs and most patients return to regular activities within 1-2 weeks.