Acute aortic syndromes, including dissections, intramural hematoma, penetrating ulcer and aneurysm, are life-threatening emergencies that require prompt diagnosis and treatment. Successful treatment depends on early diagnosis and early transfer to a specialized care facility.

The M Health Fairview Aortic Center, brings together skilled vascular surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, interventional radiologists, cardiologists and anesthesiologists, all dedicated to aortic disease care. At our specialized aortic care facility, physicians and surgeons perform complex aortic repairs in a state-of-the-art, hybrid operating room at University of Minnesota Medical Center.

Because acute aortic syndrome survival is closely tied to time to effective treatment, the care team at the M Health Aortic Center has implemented the Aortic Center Emergency Triage Line for physicians. When a referring provider places a call to the triage line, they are connected to a vascular surgeon, a cardiovascular/thoracic surgeon, and an emergency department attending physician. The team jointly decides on an immediate action plan for the patient. Quick action can make a difference when treating acute aortic syndromes.

Though most treatment centers in the nation require patients to be under general anesthesia for a stent graft, in many cases, our highly specialized M Health care team is able to perform these procedures with only local anesthesia and mild sedation. This approach allows for treatment of about 80 percent of abdominal aortic aneurysms. The remaining 20 percent of aneurysms are often better treated with open surgery to provide a definite cure in a place where a stent graft may be less durable.