CoxHealth vascular surgery team brings advanced aortic repair procedure to southwest Missouri

As part of our efforts to bring the most innovative care close to home, CoxHealth is now offering a new, minimally invasive option for treating complex aortic aneurysms at Cox South in Springfield.  

The thoracoabdominal branch endoprosthesis (TAMBE) procedure is the latest in cutting-edge expertise offered by CoxHealth’s Vascular Surgery & Medicine department, expanding access to advanced care for patients in the region.  

“This is the newest addition to our surgical portfolio that allows us to treat complex aortic pathologies,” says Dr. Stephen Gallo, a vascular surgeon at CoxHealth. “We are proud to bring this service to our region, and to provide our patients the same advanced vascular care offered in the best academic centers.”

CoxHealth began performing TAMBE procedures in early May, with Dr. Gallo and Dr. Zachary Schmittling currently conducting cases each week. Offering this service locally helps ensure that patients — especially those with limited mobility — can avoid long-distance travel and remain closer to home and support systems.

Approved by the FDA in January 2024, the TAMBE (GORE Excluder) is the first off-the-shelf device designed for the treatment of thoracoabdominal and pararenal aortic aneurysms. These aneurysms produce a balloon-like bulge in the aorta, the large artery that carries blood from the heart through the chest and torso. If untreated, an aneurysm can rupture, causing life-threatening complications.

Historically, patients with these conditions faced high-risk open surgeries or were transferred to academic medical centers for treatment.

The TAMBE device is an implantable, branched endoprosthesis that treats thoracoabdominal and pararenal aortic aneurysms using an endovascular approach. The device seals off an aneurysm and redirects blood flow through the device using established imaging techniques.

With the procedure now available locally, patients in the Ozarks can receive the care they need closer to home — often with shorter recovery times and improved outcomes.

“Our team of surgeons, techs, nurses, ICU staff and support departments enables us to deliver this complex care safely and effectively in our own community,” Dr. Gallo says.

This achievement reflects a strong collaborative effort among hospital leadership and a dedicated surgical team, reinforcing the hospital’s commitment to bringing innovative, life-saving care to southwest Missouri.

“We embrace new technology and are proud to offer it to our patients,” Dr. Gallo says. “TAMBE is the first and only device currently approved by the FDA for this type of disease, and we are proud to be offering it here in Springfield.”