Vascular Surgery Research

Multi-disciplinary Thoracic Aortic Program

Diseases of the thoracic aorta are life-changing diagnoses. The management of these conditions is complex and it is normal for patients and their families to feel overwhelmed by the prospect of major surgery as well as to worry about the long-term implications of this disease. We are here to help.

At the University of Washington “MTAP,” we believe that complex thoracic aortic disease is best treated by a team-based approach. We understand that no individual provider can tackle these complex issues alone, but rather acknowledge the benefit of a multi-disciplinary approach utilizing the diverse specialists available at the University of Washington. Our team includes both cardiac and vascular surgeons, along with collaborators in cardiology and medical genetics.

Selected Research Publications

Dr. Thomas Hatsukami, Professor, Division of Vascular Surgery

  1. Saba L, Yuan C, Hatsukami TS, Balu N, Qiao Y, DeMarco JK, Saam T, Moody AR, Li D, Matouk CC, Johnson MH, Jager HR, Mossa-Basha M, Kooi ME, Fan Z, et al. Carotid Artery Wall Imaging: Perspective and Guidelines from the ASNR Vessel Wall Imaging Study Group and Expert Consensus Recommendations of the American Society of Neuroradiology. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2018;39:E9-E31
  2. Sun J, Zhao XQ, Balu N, Neradilek MB, Isquith DA, Yamada K, Canton G, Crouse JR, 3rd, Anderson TJ, Huston J, 3rd, O'Brien K, Hippe DS, Polissar NL, Yuan C, Hatsukami TS. Carotid Plaque Lipid Content and Fibrous Cap Status Predict Systemic CV Outcomes: The MRI Substudy in AIM-HIGH. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2017;10:241-249
  3. Hatsukami TS: Guest Editor. Evolution of carotid atherosclerotic disease therapies. Semin Vasc Surg. 2017;30:1-66
  4. Sun J, Hatsukami TS. Plaque Imaging to Decide on Optimal Treatment: Medical Versus Carotid Endarterectomy Versus Carotid Artery Stenting. Neuroimaging Clin N Am. 2016;26:165-173
  5. Sun J, Canton G, Balu N, Hippe DS, Xu D, Liu J, Hatsukami TS, Yuan C. Blood Pressure Is a Major Modifiable Risk Factor Implicated in Pathogenesis of Intraplaque Hemorrhage: An In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2016;36:743-749
  6. Zhao XQ, Hatsukami TS, Hippe DS, Sun J, Balu N, Isquith DA, Crouse JR, 3rd, Anderson T, Huston J, 3rd, Polissar N, O'Brien K, Yuan C, Investigators A-HCMS-s. Clinical factors associated with high-risk carotid plaque features as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with established vascular disease (from the AIM-HIGH Study). Am J Cardiol. 2014;114:1412-1419
  7. Xu D, Hippe DS, Underhill HR, Oikawa-Wakayama M, Dong L, Yamada K, Yuan C, Hatsukami TS. Prediction of high-risk plaque development and plaque progression with the carotid atherosclerosis score. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2014;7:366-373
  8. Sun J, Underhill HR, Hippe DS, Xue Y, Yuan C, Hatsukami TS. Sustained acceleration in carotid atherosclerotic plaque progression with intraplaque hemorrhage: a long-term time course study. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2012;5:798-804
  9. Starnes BW, Lundgren RS, Gunn M, Quade S, Hatsukami TS, Tran NT, Mokadam N, Aldea G. A new classification scheme for treating blunt aortic injury. J Vasc Surg. 2012;55:47-54
  10. Fleg JL, Stone GW, Fayad ZA, Granada JF, Hatsukami TS, Kolodgie FD, Ohayon J, Pettigrew R, Sabatine MS, Tearney GJ, Waxman S, Domanski MJ, Srinivas PR, Narula J. Detection of High-Risk Atherosclerotic Plaque: Report of the NHLBI Working Group on Current Status and Future Directions. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2012;5:941-955
  11. Zhao XQ, Dong L, Hatsukami T, Phan BA, Chu B, Moore A, Lane T, Neradilek MB, Polissar N, Monick D, Lee C, Underhill H, Yuan C. MR imaging of carotid plaque composition during lipid-lowering therapy: A prospective assessment of effect and time course. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2011;4:977-986
  12. Shalhub S, Starnes BW, Hatsukami TS, Karmy-Jones R, Tran NT. Repair of blunt thoracic outlet arterial injuries: An evolution from open to endovascular approach. J Trauma. 2011;71:E114-121
  13. Ronald J, Rajagopalan R, Cerrato F, Nord AS, Hatsukami T, Kohler T, Marcovina S, Heagerty P, Jarvik GP. Genetic variation in LPAL2, LPA, and PLG predicts plasma lipoprotein(a) level and carotid artery disease risk. Stroke. 2011;42:2-9
  14. Moreno K, Murray-Wijelath J, Yagi M, Kohler T, Hatsukami T, Clowes A, Sobel M. Circulating inflammatory cells are associated with vein graft stenosis. J Vasc Surg. 2011;54:1124-1130
  15. Underhill HR, Yuan C, Yarnykh VL, Chu B, Oikawa M, Dong L, Polissar NL, Garden GA, Cramer SC, Hatsukami TS. Predictors of surface disruption with MR imaging in asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2010;31:487-493
  16. Underhill HR, Hatsukami TS, Fayad ZA, Fuster V, Yuan C. MRI of carotid atherosclerosis: Clinical implications and future directions. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2010;7:165-173
  17. Underhill HR, Hatsukami TS, Cai J, Yu W, DeMarco JK, Polissar NL, Ota H, Zhao X, Dong L, Oikawa M, Yuan C. A noninvasive imaging approach to assess plaque severity: the carotid atherosclerosis score. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2010;31:1068-1075
  18. Starnes BW, Quiroga E, Hutter C, Tran NT, Hatsukami T, Meissner M, Tang G, Kohler T. Management of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm in the endovascular era. J Vasc Surg. 2010;51:9-17; discussion 17-18
  19. Underhill HR, Yuan C, Yarnykh VL, Chu B, Oikawa M, Polissar NL, Schwartz SM, Jarvik GP, Hatsukami TS. Arterial remodeling in subclinical carotid artery disease. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2009;2:1381-1389
  20. Easton JD, Saver JL, Albers GW, Alberts MJ, Chaturvedi S, Feldmann E, Hatsukami TS, Higashida RT, Johnston SC, Kidwell CS, Lutsep HL, Miller E, Sacco RL. Definition and evaluation of transient ischemic attack: A scientific statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Stroke Council; Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia; Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention; Council on Cardiovascular Nursing; and the Interdisciplinary Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease. The American Academy of Neurology affirms the value of this statement as an educational tool for neurologists. Stroke. 2009;40:2276-2293
  21. Zhao XQ and Hatsukami TS. Risk Factors for Development of Carotid Plaque Components. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2018;11:193-195.
  22. Saba L, Saam T, Jager HR, Yuan C, Hatsukami TS, Saloner D, Wasserman BA, Bonati LH and Wintermark M. Imaging biomarkers of vulnerable carotid plaques for stroke risk prediction and their potential clinical implications. Lancet neurology. 2019;18:559-572.
  23. Chen L, Sun J, Hippe DS, Balu N, Yuan Q, Yuan I, Zhao X, Li R, He L, Hatsukami TS, Hwang JN and Yuan C. Quantitative assessment of the intracranial vasculature in an older adult population using iCafe. Neurobiology of aging. 2019;79:59-65.