Aortic Center Video Library

Treating aortic disease requires advanced technology, specialized expertise and close coordination across surgical teams. In this video, Bernardo Mendes, MD, and Peter Downey, MD, of the UCLA Health Aortic Center explain what sets the center apart — from hybrid operating rooms and high-quality imaging to the team-based approach between vascular and cardiac surgeons. They also discuss how this collaboration helps make complex aortic repairs safer and more effective for patients.

An aortic dissection is a tear in the inner lining of the aorta that can become life-threatening and requires urgent expert care. In this video, Peter Downey, MD, and Bernardo Mendes, MD, of the UCLA Health Aortic Center explain how aortic dissections are diagnosed and treated, including stent-based procedures and open surgery.

Not everyone with an aortic aneurysm is a candidate for endovascular repair. In this video, Bernardo Mendes, MD, of the UCLA Health Aortic Center explains how specialists determine whether this minimally invasive approach is the right fit based on the aneurysm's location, the shape of the aorta and the condition of nearby blood vessels. Dr. Mendes also discusses when more complex grafts or open surgery may be recommended to achieve the safest and most durable result.

Aortic aneurysm surgery is a serious procedure, but advances in minimally invasive techniques, planning and monitoring have made it safer than ever. In this video, Bernardo Mendes, MD, of the UCLA Health Aortic Center explains how surgical risk depends on the aneurysm's size and location, and how the care team works to reduce complications. Dr. Mendes discusses minimally invasive repair, more complex aneurysm treatment and the strategies UCLA Health uses to help protect the kidneys, intestines and spinal cord.

Aortic surgery has changed dramatically over the past two decades, with less invasive techniques helping patients recover faster and avoid many of the risks of traditional open surgery. In this video, Bernardo Mendes, MD, of the UCLA Health Aortic Center explains how modern stent grafts are used to repair many aortic aneurysms through a small puncture in the groin rather than a large incision. He also discusses how these advances help prevent life-threatening rupture and improve patient outcomes.