Our team offers the only FDA approved minimally invasive treatment alternative for thoracic aortic aneurysms in Alaska.

Catheter delivery through a small incision

Now, for the first time, there is a less-invasive method of treating thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Unlike traditional open surgery that involves a large chest incision and prolonged aortic clamping, the GORE TAG Device is inserted through a small incision in the femoral or iliac arteries, advanced to the appropriate location, and deployed to exclude the aneurysm.

Patients with a thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) risk death due to internal bleeding resulting from a rupture of their aneurysm. Unfortunately, this life-threating condition is generally believed to be signifcantly under-diagnosed because most affected individuals are asymptomatic.

Until now, the only treatment available was invasive open surgery requiring an incision large enough to allow a synthetic graft to be sewn into place.

Endovascular Procedure versus Open Surgical Repair

The new GORE TAG Endoprosthesis can have a profound impact on the lives of patients with TAA. The following Pivotal Trial evidence demonstrates the advantages of a minimally invasive TAA procedure vs. open surgery.

Clinical Data

The GORE TAG Thoracic Endoprosthesis Pivotal Trial demonstrated the TAG Device group as compared to an open surgical control group had:

• One-fifth the paraplegia rate (3% vs. 14%)
• One-sixth the operative mortality rate (1% vs. 6%)
• 80% less procedural blood loss on average (472 ml vs. 2,402 ml)
• Lower aneurysm-related death through 1 year (3% vs. 10%)
• Shortened average ICU stay (1 day vs. 3 days)
• Shortened average hospital stay (3 days vs. 10 days)
• Two times faster return to normal activity (30 days vs. 78 days)

For more information, please contact us via email, or call (907) 375-2000.