Cardiovascular Services

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR)

What is thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR)?

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is a minimally invasive procedure to repair the major blood vessel in the body, called the aorta.The aorta exits the heart and carries blood to all the organs and the rest of the body. After leaving the heart, the aorta branches to the arms and the brain before running down the back of the chest (thorax) into the belly (abdomen). The aorta forks at the level of the belly button (umbilicus) into branches that go down each leg.

What happens during a TEVAR procedure?

To fix or "re-line" the aorta, doctors place a device through a small hole in your groin, known as a stent graft. This device is made of a fabric-covered metal mesh which is fully opened under X-ray. The device repairs the diseased aorta and helps to keep it open and allow blood to flow properly to the rest of the body. The aorta can be affected by a number of different diseases including aneurysm, dissection, transection and stenosis. The procedure usually takes around 2 hours to complete.

Why MaineHealth?

MaineHealth offers comprehensive thoracic aortic aneurysm management – spanning the aortic root, ascending, arch, descending and thoracoabdominal segments with open, endovascular (TEVAR), and hybrid techniques. We support our patients through all aspects of this progressive disease, including acute and chronic cases, and patients with known or suspected connective tissue diseases. Maine Medical Center is also the only hospital in Maine performing EKG-gated CT angiography, which offers the most accurate assessment of the thoracic aorta.

Next Steps for Patients

While some patients are candidates for self-referral to our cardiovascular specialists, we recommend that you ask your primary care physician for help with the process.

Provider Referrals

If you are a provider who would like to refer a patient for MaineHealth vascular services, please review our referral guidelines and call 207-662-8900