Stage 1: Elephant Trunk Procedure for complex aortic aneurysm
In the first stage, Cleveland Clinic surgeons used a traditional incision in the sternum to replace the aortic valve, ascending aorta and arch, and placed an “elephant trunk” graft that hangs in the descending aorta. Shaped in a tubular form, the elephant trunk graft is made from Dacron, which is a synthetic material that is used to replace or repair blood vessels. The aorta was then wrapped at the diaphragm, and superior mesenteric arteries were bypassed.