For years, William Kvasnicka knew he had a problem with his aorta. A dangerous bulge, called an aneurysm, was slowly growing larger. If it burst, it could be fatal.

But traditional open surgery would be too risky. In his late 70s, and with other health considerations, Kvasnicka wasn't a good candidate for traditional surgery, which requires large cuts in the chest and belly.

Then his doctor offered new hope. Vascular surgeon Jonathan Thompson, MD, told Kvasnicka about a new, minimally invasive device called TAMBE (Thoracoabdominal Multibranch Endoprosthesis). His team had just received approval to offer the procedure.

"Up until now, there was no good way to fix aneurysms near vital organs without major surgery," Dr. Thompson says. "TAMBE can achieve the same repair but can do it through basically a small poke in the right groin, a small poke in the left groin and a small incision in the left arm."

For Kvasnicka, who was concerned about the extensive rehabilitation required after a major surgery, the TAMBE option was a welcome relief. Despite his reservations about it being a new procedure, Kvasnicka had faith in Dr. Thompson and his team. “I trusted my doctor,” he says.

Making history in Nebraska

On October 29, 2024, Kvasnicka became the first Nebraska Medicine patient to have the TAMBE procedure. Nebraska Medical Center is the only hospital in the region approved to perform this surgery.

Vascular surgeon Jason Cook, MD, PhD, joined Dr. Thompson in performing the procedure.

While TAMBE offers many benefits, doctors carefully choose which patients should get it. Dr. Thompson explains, “The open technique is still a good, durable technique, so this procedure is generally reserved for people who probably wouldn't survive a big open operation. It really extends treatment to people who otherwise wouldn't be eligible for it.”

A team approach

Though minimally invasive, the complexity of TAMBE requires careful planning. The night before Kvasnicka’s procedure, his surgical team spent hours going over each step.

"Dr. Thompson talked about how the team practiced all evening," says Mellanee Kvasnicka, William's wife of 55 years and a retired teacher. "That's like a kid doing homework. Only this homework is much more important."

The surgery itself took nine and a half hours. 

"When Dr. Thompson came out to tell me it went well, I was overjoyed," Mellanee says. "He just said, 'Well, that's what we do.' I told him, 'No, stop. You can't brush it off. What you do is amazing.'"

Faster recovery

Kvasnicka’s recovery was much faster than with traditional open surgery. “I was out of the hospital within three to four days,” he says. While it took him about four weeks to feel back to his usual self, he recognizes that this timeframe was significantly shorter than if he had undergone open surgery.

Throughout recovery, Mellanee helped her husband every step of the way. "In our 50-plus years of marriage, we've always helped each other," she says. "If one is down, the other takes up the slack. That's what we do."

Kvasnicka also praises his care team, from an ICU doctor who helped manage his post-surgical back pain, to nurses to food and environmental staff who took special care not to disturb him when they entered his room. “They were all very nice, and the surgical team checked in on me every morning,” he says.

Leading the way

Not every hospital can offer the TAMBE device. Surgeons need special training and approval from the FDA. 

Dr. Thompson adds, “This surgery shows we have the skills and tools to handle complex heart and blood vessel problems. More importantly, it gives hope to patients who couldn't have surgery before."

Four months after his procedure, Kvasnicka is back to his normal activities. As he looks to the future, he is optimistic. “I don’t see Dr. Thompson for another six months, so I guess I’m good as gold at this point,” he says with a smile.