UPMC Center for Aortic Disease

Aortic Conditions We Treat at UPMC

Our team treats both routine and complex aortic conditions.

Aortic aneurysms

The most common condition we treat is a bulging of the aorta, called an aortic aneurysm.

Types include:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm.
• Aortic arch aneurysm.
• Aortic root aneurysm.
• Ascending aortic aneurysm.
• Familial thoracic aneurysms.
• Descending thoracic aortic aneurysm.
• Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm.

Other aortic conditions we treat

• Atherosclerotic occlusive disease
• Aortic coarctation (narrowing).
• Aortoiliac occlusive disease.
• Aortic dissection (types A and B).
• Bicuspid aortic valve.
• Brachiocephalic arterial insufficiency.
• Congenital aortic anomalies
• Connective tissue disorder or genetically mediated aortic disease.
• Dysphagia lusoria.
• Ehlers Danlos syndrome.
• Intramural hematoma.
• Loeys Dietz syndrome.
• Marfan syndrome.
• Mycotic/infected aortas.
• Penetrating aortic ulcerations.
• Traumatic aortic injuries.
• Vascular rings.

How Do You Treat Aortic Diseases?

At the UPMC Center for Aortic Disease, we provide advanced treatments, access to the latest clinical trials, and minimally invasive options.

We specialize less invasive options for aortic aneurysm repair with the use of stent grafts. Examples include endovascular abdominal aortic repair (EVAR), thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR),  and repair of complex aortic aneurysms with fenestrated or branched devices (FEVAR).

Endovascular means the doctors insert catheters and wires in your blood vessels to access the area they need to fix.

Treatment options we offer include:

• Aortic valve repair and valve replacement.
• Ascending aortic replacement.
• Aortic arch replacement.
• Bicuspid aortic valve repair and replacement
• Branched aortic endografts.
• Narrow aorta repair/coarctation repair.
• Types A and B dissection repair.
• Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
• TEVAR (Thoracic endovascular aortic repair).
• EVAR (Endovascular aneurysm repair).
• FEVAR (Fenestrated or branched endovascular aortic repair).
• Subclavian to carotid transposition.
• Aortic transection repair.

Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program

• Arvind Hoskoppal, MD
• Anita Saraf, MD
• Natasha Wolfe, MD

Pediatric Aortopathy Program

• Rachel Torok, MD

Adult Vascular Surgery

• Georges Al-Khoury, MD
• Rabih Chaer, MD
• Raymond Eid, MD
• Nathan Liang, MD
• Michael Madigan, MD
• Michel Makaroun, MD 
• Michael Singh, MD

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

• Victor Morell, MD

Adult Cardiac Surgery

• Derek Serna-Gallegos, MD
• Ibrahim Sultan, MD

Interventional Cardiologists

• Jeffrey Fowler, DO
• Dustin Kliner, MD
• A.J. Conrad Smith, MD
• Catalin Toma, MD

Aortic Clinical Trials

A Prospective, global study designed to collect real-world clinical outcomes of the MITRIS RESILIA mitral valve – North America (MOMENTIS)

PI: Ibrahim Sultan, MD
Research Coordinator: Missy Sanders Linger

The PROGRESS Trial - A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial to Assess the Management of Moderate Aortic Stenosis by Clinical Surveillance or Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

PI: Ibrahim Sultan, MD
Research Coordinator: Kristin Konopka

This study is being done to see if the SAPIEN 3™ and SAPIEN 3 Ultra™ Transcatheter Heart Valve is beneficial for patients with moderate, calcific aortic stenosis. You will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. You will have an equal chance of getting into either group (like flipping a coin):

1. Treatment Group: If you are assigned to this group, you will have a procedure to replace your aortic valve with the Edwards SAPIEN 3 or Edwards SAPIEN 3 Ultra system. The type of procedure for this device is called Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).
2. Clinical Surveillance Group: If you are assigned to this group, you will not have your heart valve replaced. However, your doctor will continue to provide optimal medical therapy and will closely monitor how you are doing (this is called ‘Clinical Surveillance’).

PRO: Optimize Pro FX TAVR Post Market Study

PI: Dustin Kliner, MD
Research Coordinator: Stephanie Shearer

TiGER-001 Study

PI: Ibrahim Sultan, MD
Research Coordinator: Kristin Konopka

Terumo Aortic manufactures endovascular (inside the blood vessel) grafts that are widely used to treat a number of different conditions. Terumo Aortic is funding the TiGER study to better understand how the study devices perform. You are being asked to take part because your doctor has decided that the most appropriate treatment for your condition is with a Terumo Aortic Relay®Pro Endovascular graft. 

Terumo Aortic/Thoraflex Hybrid and Relay Extension Post-Approval Study (EXTEND)

PI: Ibrahim Sultan, MD
Research Coordinator: Kristin Konopka

The purpose of this study is to gather further information on the use of the Thoraflex Hybrid study device alone and in combination with the RelayPro NBS Stent-graft to treat aortic disease.

PMCF Mitral Registry

PI: Johannes Bonatti, MD
Research Coordinator: Gail Wallen

Valved Graft Post-Market Clinical Follow-up Study

PI: Derek Serna-Gallegos
Research Coordinator: Gail Wallen

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Abbott Valved Graft devices used for surgical replacement for patients with a malfunctioning native or prosthetic aortic heart valve and ascending aorta pathology.

GORE® EXCLUDER® Thoracoabdominal Branch Endoprosthesis

PI: Michael Singh, MD
Research Coordinators: Judith Brimmeier, 412-623-8486 | Julia Wozniak, 412-623-8443

A study of patients with aortic aneurysm involving the visceral vessels requiring treatment defined as:

• Fusiform aneurysm diameter ≥ 5cm.
• Saccular aneurysm.
• Rapid aneurysm growth.

Must also have proper aortic anatomy to receive the TAMBE device.

This prospective, non-randomized, multi-center study has two independent arms:

• TAAA requiring only TAMBE system.
• TAAA requiring TAMBE system and CTAG device(s).

The study is to assess the safety and effectiveness of the TAMBE device in treating thoracoabdominal and pararenal aortic aneurysms.

GORE® TAG® Thoracic Branch Endoprosthesis

PI: Michael Singh, MD
Research Coordinators: Judith Brimmeier, 412-623-8486 | Julia Wozniak, 412-623-8443

A study of patients > 18 years of age with thoracic aortic lesions which require coverage of the left subclavian artery, left common carotid artery and/or the brachiocephalic trunk/innominate artery for effective treatment and have anatomy suitable for treatment with the TAG TBE device. The prospective, non-randomized study will assess the GORE® TAG® Thoracic Branch Endoprosthesis (TBE Device) treating lesions of the aortic arch and the descending thoracic aorta.

Contact the UPMC Center for Aortic Disease

To plan a visit with a UPMC doctor:

Fill out our contact form.
• Call 412-647-7070 or email AorticCenter@UPMC.edu.
• Find a UPMC aortic disease expert near you.