Welcome
Welcome to the Aortic Surgery Program at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center (NYPH/Columbia). Our multidisciplinary group is dedicated to the medical and surgical management of complex aortic disease. We offer expertise in all types of acute and chronic aortic problems including:
- Aortic root reconstruction,
- Valve-sparing aortic root replacement,
- Aortic valve repair,
- Thoracic aortic aneurysms,
- Aortic dissection,
- Mechanical and biological valve conduits, and
- Minimally invasive methods of aneurysm repair
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At NYPH/Columbia's Aortic Surgery Program, we offer cutting-edge surgical care for both elective and emergency aortic procedures. We are actively researching the causes of, and new treatment alternatives for, serious aortic disease. We offer long-term follow up care, particularly for patients with residual dissections or connective tissue disorders.
We also work in concert with our colleagues in the Division of Vascular Surgery to offer definitive management of thoracoabdominal aortic reconstruction (endovascular stent grafting and open repair).
For information about abdominal aortic aneurysms, please read here.
Facts about the Columbia Aortic Surgery Program:
- Mortality for aortic valve replacement at NYPH/Columbia is consistently well below the national average for U.S. academic medical centers.
- The rate of stroke for all aortic procedure at Columbia approaches zero percent.
- The mortality rate for all elective aortic procedures at Columbia approaches zero percent.
- The rate of all major complications, across the board, is under two percent.
- The David procedure (Valve sparing root replacement): Columbia is a national leader in conducting this valve-sparing operation, in which the ascending aorta is replaced without harming the native valve. Since 2005, we have performed more than 200 valve sparing procedures with no mortalities and no serious complications. Read more.
- Columbia was one of the first institutions in the U.S. to conduct percutaneous transcatheter aortic valve replacement, in 2006. During this procedure, a catheter is advanced through the femoral artery—or through the chest wall and left ventricle—to the aortic valve, where a tissue valve with metal stent scaffolding is positioned and deployed. We are currently designing methods to utilize this device to create a transcatheter aortic root replacement.
- Clinical innovation at this program has led to creation of the Columbia bioroot (also called the Stewart procedure), a stentless biological root replacement. This novel aortic root replacement has important advantages over all other available valves.
- Dr. Stewart has developed a novel minimally invasive aortic arch replacement. This hybrid endovascular procedure involves a shortened and minimally invasive means of both surgical repair and thoracic stent grafting, and can solve complex aneurysmal problems during a single trip to the operating room. Surgeons have performed over 35 of these procedures without death or stroke.
- The Aortic Surgery Program collaborates closely with Mathew Williams, MD, William Gray, MD, and other physicians and surgeons at the Center for Interventional Vascular Therapy.
This collaborative relationship has facilitated the development of novel procedures that are significantly improving patient care.
Read about aortic surgical innovations.
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If you suspect an aortic emergency, call the Aortic Emergency Hotline: 877.792.6782 (877.79.AORTA).
