Joseph Stapleton Coselli, MD

Dr. Joseph S. Coselli specializes in the clinical evaluation and surgical treatment of diseases of the aorta, including the aortic valve and root, ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending thoracic aorta, and thoracoabdominal aorta. He was mentored by the pioneering aortic surgeon Dr. E. Stanley Crawford and continues to immerse himself in evolving approaches to aortic repair. Dr. Coselli is an innovator and a leader in his field and he is highly experienced in complex aortic repair, such as repair performed in patients with connective tissue disorders (such as Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndromes), as well as emergent repair performed in patients with conditions such as acute aortic dissection or aortic rupture. For example, many patients with Marfan syndrome and annuloaortic ectasia are suitable for valve-sparing aortic root replacement, which obviates the need for a life-long anticoagulation regimen. Dr. Coselli has investigated methods to reduce postoperative mortality, paralysis, and stroke; his success in improving the process of aortic repair has resulted in better patient outcomes than those achieved in previous eras. Additionally, whenever feasible, Dr. Coselli has utilized endovascular technology to repair aortic aneurysms, because many limited aneurysms may be repaired by using thoracic stent-grafts. Dr. Coselli also performs Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedures which provide a minimally invasive technique for patients who qualify. Dr. Coselli is especially attuned to the needs of international patients, and he routinely provides expert care to patients throughout the world. He has performed more than 7,500 surgical repairs of the aorta and over 3,300 open repairs of the thoracoabdominal aorta, for which he is the world’s most experienced surgeon. The future of aortic surgery will undoubtedly be heavily influenced by advancements in multiple disciplines―genetics, cellular biology, biochemistry, engineering, and bioinformatics―as well as by innovations in imaging and in surgical and endovascular technology. Dr. Coselli continuously seeks out new treatment paradigms and has participated in numerous investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored research projects. Additionally, he has published several key papers describing the outcomes of clinical studies designed to determine the best approaches to preventing complications during aortic repair. These papers report the benefits of using cerebrospinal fluid drainage to protect the spinal cord (a technique now in widespread use in aortic repair), renal perfusion as a protective measure against renal ischemia, and left heart bypass as a protective measure against distal ischemia. Additionally, by routinely presenting informative academic lectures throughout the world, Dr. Coselli has disseminated the latest approach to surgical repairs of the aortic root (valve-sparing outcomes), aortic arch (Y-graft outcomes), and thoracoabdominal aorta (selecting adjuncts by extent of repair).