Medical Services related to Karen Meekyong Kim MD

Aortic Aneurysm

An aneurysm is a bulge that occurs in a blood vessel. If that bulge occurs in the aorta, the largest blood vessel in your body, it is called an aortic aneurysm. Aneurysms can be life-threatening if they rupture and bleed inside the body. At the Frankel Cardiovascular Center, our skilled cardiologists, surgeons and other specialists offer treatment options for all types of aortic aneurysms. Our team-based approach focuses on making sure you and your family understand your options. We work with you to decide which treatment is best for you.

Aortic Conditions We Treat

As the go-to program in the state for complex aortic disease, we have unmatched expertise in all types of aortic conditions. These include aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection and aortic valve disease and aortic conditions caused by genetic changes.

Aortic Disease Treatments and Procedures

Our Comprehensive Aortic Program at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center offers a wide range of treatment options for aortic disease. Many patients come to us for procedures that are not available elsewhere. Others choose us because they want to receive care at one of the top institutions in the country. We offer replacement or repair of the aortic valve, as well as minimally invasive and open surgery for aortic aneurysm an daortic dissection.

Aortic Dissection (Type A, Type B and Chronic Dissection)

An aortic dissection occurs when the inner layer of the aortic wall tears. The inner and middle layers of the aorta separate and fill with blood, weakening the wall of the aorta. If pressure builds up, it can lead to a dangerous rupture where blood spills inside the body. When you come to the University of Michigan Health Frankel Cardiovascular Center, you’ll find experts with decades of experience diagnosing and treating aortic dissections.

Aortic Valve Disease Overview

Aortic valve diseases can threaten your health and impact your quality of life. Our heart and vascular specialists at the University of Michigan Health Frankel Cardiovascular Center are skilled in diagnosing and treating diseases of the aortic valve.

Arteriosclerotic Aortic Disease

University of Michigan Aortic Disease Program treats all kinds of arterial disease, including arteriosclerotic aortic disease (hardening of the arteries).

Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV)

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a genetic condition that causes the aortic valve to have two leaflets instead of three. It’s the most common type of congenital heart disease (heart defect that’s present at birth) and often goes unnoticed until later in life. Doctors at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center’s Comprehensive Aortic Program have extensive experience treating patients with bicuspid aortic valve disease. We also coordinate with our Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program. Together, we offer patients expert treatment and long-term monitoring.

Comprehensive Aortic Program

When you choose the Comprehensive Aortic Program at the University of Michigan Health Frankel Cardiovascular Center, you’ll find a world-class level of experience and expertise. As leaders in the field of aortic disease, our surgeons are at the forefront of developing new surgical techniques. The Comprehensive Aortic Program is the busiest in the state and among the largest in the U.S. We are a premier center for the care of patients with complex aortic diseases.

Comprehensive Heart Valve Program

Most patients with heart valve problems are concerned about the prospect of heart surgery. The Frankel Cardiovascular Center’s Comprehensive Heart Valve Program offers several minimally invasive and transcatheter options for valve repair and replacement. Our world-renowned specialists work with you to identify the safest and most effective treatment option. We provide expert care to protect your health and help you feel better as quickly as possible.

Enlarged Aorta

Patients diagnosed with an enlarged aorta will likely have many questions about the condition: How big is too big? When should I be worried? What does “watchful waiting” mean? Are there any early warning signs before it bursts? Most of the answers to these questions depend on a variety of factors, including age and body size, medical history, and the position and size of the aorta, among others.

Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR)

Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is the treatment of choice for many patients diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis. Other, less invasive options are available for certain patients using a catheter procedure, but surgical replacement of the aortic valve is often the most appropriate and safest procedure for some patients.

TAVR: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive procedure used to replace the aortic valve in people with severe aortic stenosis. In the past, valve replacement required open heart surgery. With TAVR, our doctors use a catheter (thin tube) to fit a new valve inside the diseased valve.

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

A thoracic aortic aneurysm is an enlargement in the upper part of the aorta, the major blood vessel that routes blood to the body. Thoracic aortic aneurysms can cause aortic dissection (splitting of the aortic wall) and aortic rupture, leading to life-threatening internal bleeding. Thoracic aortic aneurysms, even those that are large, frequently do not cause symptoms. Some individuals, however, may experience symptoms such as: pain in the chest area; back pain; coughing or hoarseness; and difficulty breathing.

Thoracic Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (TEVAR)

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is a minimally invasive option to conventional open surgery for patients suffering from thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) who are not optimal candidates for traditional open repair. TEVAR can shorten hospital stays and reduce recovery periods. The University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center’s surgical team has more than two decades of experience performing TEVAR procedures and provides comprehensive care to patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms as well as to all aortic patients, including those who are high-risk.

Tricuspid Valve Disease

The tricuspid valve regulates blood flow from the heart’s upper right chamber (right atrium) to the lower right chamber (right ventricle). The valve’s role is to ensure blood flows in a forward direction from the right atrium to the ventricle. Any abnormal function of the tricuspid valve is known as tricuspid valve disease.

Valve-in-Valve TAVR

Over time (approximately 10 to 15 years), tissue heart valves (or bioprosthetic valves) degenerate and eventually fail, requiring the need for replacement. TAVR technology offers a minimally invasive procedure to patients who previously underwent open-heart surgery for a bioprosthetic valve. This option is especially beneficial for high-risk patients as it allows them to recover in less time — typically one week versus three months. Using the less invasive “valve-in-valve” procedure, a new transcatheter valve is tightly placed into the orifice of the failed surgical valve, pushing the old valve leaflets aside.