Aortic surgery

Dr. Morsi Arar

MHH: World-leading center for aortic surgery
Aortic surgery has traditionally played a prominent role at our Clinical Department. Pioneering operations (composite replacement) for aneurysms (dangerous bulges) or dissections (tears) of the aortic root were established in our Clinical Department at an early stage. Today, the Clinical Department is one of the world's leading hospitals for the surgical treatment of diseases of the aorta in the thoracic and abdominal area.

Low complication rate thanks to innovative methods
We are constantly working on further improving the known techniques, in particular to reduce neurological surgical risks. For example, we have achieved an extremely low complication rate in aortic surgery at our Clinical Department. To this end, thoracic intraluminal aortic stents are increasingly being used for dissections and aneurysms. A milestone in the treatment of extensive dissections of the aorta was the development of the so-called elephant trunk technique at our Clinical Department, which is now used worldwide.

Experience
This safety is not least due to our extensive experience: we also perform special procedures with great routine. For example, our Clinical Department has the most experience in the world with aortic root replacement using the David method. In this operation to treat the diseased ascending aorta, the patient's own aortic valve is sewn directly into an aortic prosthesis and thus preserved.

Combination of surgical and interventional procedures
The combination of surgical and interventional (via catheter) measures, such as the hybrid prosthesis developed at our Clinical Department, opens up gentle and at the same time very effective and permanent treatment options.

Minimally invasive aortic surgery
Minimally invasive thoracic aortic surgery is an alternative to complete opening of the chest. In principle, many procedures on the aortic valve, the ascending aorta and the aortic arch can be performed via this approach. In this case, the sternum is not severed but only partially opened. We like to use this procedure for patients who have a particularly high risk of so-called sternal instability after the operation. The procedure is cosmetically very advantageous, but requires anatomical preconditions and must be examined on a case-by-case basis.

Focus of treatment

• Routine performance of all established aortic root replacement techniques, e.g. the Ross operation and aortic root replacement while preserving the native aortic valve by reimplanting it into the aortic prosthesis (David operation)
• Dissections of the ascending aorta
• Treatment of thoracic, thoracoabdominal and abdominal aortic aneurysms using the heart-lung machine
• Implantation of homografts (preserved human donor tissue)