The Gerald McGinnis Cardiovascular Institute at Allegheny General Hospital
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Aortic Disease
Marous Center for Vascular Disease

Aortic disease presents challenges for both diagnosis and treatment. CVI specialists in the fields of vascular surgery, interventional radiology, cardiac surgery and cardiology form a powerful team to combat this difficult and often dangerous group of major vascular pathologies.

Abdominal Aortic Disease

Nearly 200,000 new cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are diagnosed every year — and for more than 65 percent of those affected, abdominal aortic dissection and rupture causes death before patients ever reach the hospital. The Allegheny General aortic disease team has unique experience in treating abdominal aortic disease with both traditional surgery and the new minimally invasive endovascular method of aortic repair. The team has treated nearly 1000 patients in the last six years, with more than 80 percent currently being treated with endovascular techniques.


Interventional radiologist, Paul Kiproff, M.D. (left), and cardiovascular surgeon, Daniel Benckart, M.D., (right), collaborate on plans for an endovascular repair of an abdominal aneurysm.
Traditional open abdominal aortic repair was originally introduced in 1953. The basic procedure involves general anesthesia for a two to three hour operation, a large midline incision and an intensive care stay immediately following surgery. Patients are usually discharged within five to six days and are recovered in about six weeks. Grafts placed during open resection have proved to be extremely durable in long-term studies extending to 35 years after operation. Endovascular abdominal aortic repair was first performed in 1993. The procedure can be performed in the operating room or in the radiology suite using epidural anesthesia. Two small groin incisions are required for access and the procedure can be completed in one to three hours. No intensive care stay is needed and patients are usually discharged in 36 hours. Recovery time is four to seven days. This approach is considered to be the first choice for many patients. This new technology has demonstrated excellent results, and long-term outcomes are being carefully studied by the CVI team and other centers.

Thoracic Aortic Disease

Thoracic aortic disease is complex, and varies in severity and treatment approach depending upon the type, location and extent of the problem. Thoracic aortic disease may reach into vital cardiac structures and can disrupt blood flow to the brain, spinal cord and kidneys. The CVI team has the region's broadest experience with thoracic aortic diagnosis and treatment, including critical expertise in sustaining life and organ function during major repair and reconstruction procedures. The CVI team is one of few in the region to employ thoracic endovascular techniques in eligible patients, significantly increasing the number of patients who can be offered a repair procedure.