Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm Repair (TAA)
Aneurysms that involve the thoracic and abdominal aorta are called thoracoabdominal aneurysms.
TAA Repair
During open aneurysm repair, your surgeon makes an incision in your chest and replaces the weakened portion of your aorta with a fabric tube, called a graft. The graft is stronger than the weakened aorta and allows blood to pass through it without causing a bulge.
A catheter, inserted at the start of the procedure to drain spinal fluid, relieves pressure created during surgery and reduces the risk of postsurgical paralysis.
Reduced Risks
TAA repair is a very complex procedure and requires a team of highly skilled and experienced surgeons.
Surgical methods used at Memorial Hermann have resulted in a significant reduction of the risks commonly associated with this procedure. Since 1992, incidence of paralysis has decreased from 15% to less than 3% at the Heart & Vascular Institute-Texas Medical Center.