Vascular surgeons at Yale successfully performed the first GORE® EXCLUDER® Thoracoabdominal Branch Endoprosthesis (TAMBE) procedure in Connecticut on August 7. The patient did well and returned home several days later. The procedure marks a significant milestone in the treatment of complex aortic aneurysms, and showcases the innovative expertise of the Yale Department of Surgery's team of vascular and cardiac aortic specialists.
Dr. David Kuwayama, Director of Aortic Surgery in the Yale Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, emphasized the procedure's impact: “This revolutionary technique promises to significantly improve outcomes for our aneurysm patients, and positions Yale’s Heart and Vascular Center as a leading destination for state-of-the-art, research-driven aortic care.”
Aortic aneurysms, often asymptomatic and potentially fatal, have traditionally required high-risk open surgery and lengthy recovery times. TAMBE offers a groundbreaking, minimally invasive alternative for patients with complex and extensive aneurysms. Surgeons use imaging to guide the TAMBE device through a small incision in the groin, assembling it within the aorta to effectively neutralize the aneurysm.
Previously TAMBE was limited to clinical trials, in which Dr. Kuwayama was an investigator. It is now FDA-approved as a life-saving option for patients with thoracoabdominal and pararenal aortic aneurysms. Yale New Haven Hospital is the first center in the state to offer this minimally invasive treatment option, reaffirming Yale’s leadership in advanced vascular and endovascular care.