Ascending Aorta and Aorta Arch Surgery at Emory Heart & Vascular

Ascending Aorta and Aorta Arch Surgery

The aorta is your body’s largest artery. It carries blood away from your heart to your body.

The aorta extends upward toward the chest (ascending) to form an arch. Then, it goes downward toward the abdomen (descending).

If your aorta has a weak spot where it expands or balloons, this is an aortic aneurysm.

Sometimes, an aneurysm can tear or burst. When an aneurysm causes the aortic wall to tear, this is an aortic dissection.

Aneurysms and dissections occur more often in the ascending aorta. They can be life-threatening. This requires open heart surgery.

Anatomy of Ascending Aorta

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Types of Ascending Aorta and Aorta Arch Surgery

Emory Heart & Vascular provides innovative care for all aortic conditions, including complex cases. The types of surgery include:

Aortic Valve and Ascending Aorta Replacement with Hemiarch Replacement

Your doctor may recommend this procedure if you have an aneurysm or dissection of the ascending aorta and an aortic valve that is not working correctly. Your surgeon will replace the aortic valve, the ascending aorta and the lesser curve of the aortic arch with a Dacron Graft.

Interactive 1. Aortic Valve and Ascending Aorta Replacement with Hemiarch Replacement

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Tissue Valved Conduit Root Repair with Hemiarch Replacement

You may need this procedure if you have an aneurysm that involves the aortic root and the ascending aorta and if you have aortic valve problems. Your surgeon replaces the aortic root with a surgical prosthetic (artificial) graft that contains a tissue aortic valve. Your surgeon also replaces the ascending aorta and proximal aortic arch with a surgical graft.

Interactive 4. Tissue Valved Conduit Root Repair with Hemiarch Replacement

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Total Arch Replacement with Reimplantation of Great Vessels

You need this surgery if you have an aneurysm that involves the entire aortic arch. Your surgeon replaces your ascending aorta and aortic arch with a customized, multi-branch Dacron graft. Then, your surgeon individually reattaches the blood vessels that supply the brain and arms to the new aortic arch graft.

Interactive 7. Total Arch Replacement with Reimplantation of Great Vessels

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Type A Aortic Dissection Hybrid Repair with Frozen Elephant Trunk

(with Aortic Valve Resuspension, Hemiarch Reconstruction and Descending Stent Graft)

If you have an aortic dissection in the ascending aorta, emergent open heart surgery is required. In this surgery, your surgeon repairs the native aortic valve and root. The ascending aorta and proximal arch are replaced with a Dacron graft, and a stent graft is placed to treat the descending thoracic aorta.

Interactive 6. Type A Aortic Dissection Hybrid Repair with Frozen Elephant Trunk (with Aortic Valve Resuspension, Hemiarch Reconstruction, and Descending Stent Graft)

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Exceptional Expertise

Emory Heart & Vascular is one of the nation’s leaders in treating aortic aneurysms that occur anywhere along the aorta.

Our surgeons are at the forefront of researching new aortic devices and treatments to provide the most advanced care.

Emory Healthcare is part of an academic medical center that includes Emory University School of Medicine. This means you have access to up-to-the-minute treatments. Also, you may have the opportunity to participate in a research study or clinical trial.

Make an Appointment at Emory Heart & Vascular

Create a MyChart account to schedule online or call 404-778-5040 to schedule an appointment.

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Ascending Aorta & Aorta Arch Surgery