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Detail

Martin Funovics
Assoc. Prof. Univ. Doz. Dr. Martin Funovics, EBIR, FCIRSEHead of Research Group for Endovascular Aortic Therapy

Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy (Division of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology)
Position: Associate Professor

Research group(s)

Research interests

Working full-time in interventional radiology Dr Funovics has performed over 15000 interventional procedures covering all aspects of this speciality. His major scientific interest is the endovascular treatment of aortic diseases, a currently rapidly evolving field. Since 2010, Dr Funovics is responsible for the complex endovascular aortic program, which involves the implantation of branched and fenestrated endovascular prostheses. The complexity of procedures called for publications regarding quality assessment and technical innovations, and Dr Funovics partnered with some of the major players in the industry, as well as with other academic high-volume aortic centers to report multi-centric results of highly innovative procedures [#2,5 in pub.list], pioneered their own methodological approaches [#1,6], and, together with the industry, developed new treatment concepts with first-in-man implantations at MUW [#8]. The shortcomings of the endovascular method were also evaluated, e.g. by the creation of an Austrian complication database, and previously underreported issues were raised [#7]. 

Techniques, methods & infrastructure

The Medical University of Vienna houses one of the largest centres for aortic therapy in Europe. Endovascular aortic procedures are exclusively carried out in an interdisciplinary approach between the Departments of Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, Anesthesiology, and Radiology. Implantations are carried pioneering new modalities such as steerable shaths, biplane imaging, hybrid OR setting, and cutting-edge endoprosthesis. For the follow-up, a photon-counting CT is available giving unpredecendet resolution. Multiple new technologies were successfully carried out as first-in-man procedures in the Vienna Aortic Center.

Selected publications

  1. Hauck, S.R. et al. (2022) ‘Applicability of endovascular branched and fenestrated aortic arch repair devices to treat residual type A dissection after ascending replacement’, Journal of Vascular Surgery, 76(6), pp. 1440–1448. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2022.08.018.
  2. Hauck, S.R. et al. (2022) ‘Branched versus fenestrated thoracic endovascular aortic repair in the aortic arch: A multicenter comparison’, The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 164(5), pp. 1379-1389.e1. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2022.03.023.
  3. Hauck, S.R. et al. (2022) ‘Structural failure in bridging stentgrafts for branched endovascular aneurysm repair: a case–control study’, Insights into Imaging, 13(1). Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13244-022-01196-6.
  4. Hauck, S.R. et al. (2021) ‘Endovascular Stent-Graft Repair of the Ascending Aorta: Assessment of a Specific Novel Stent-Graft Design in Phantom, Cadaveric, and Clinical Application’, CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology, 44(9), pp. 1448–1455. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00270-021-02859-5.
  5. Hauck, S.R. et al. (2022) ‘Use of a Steerable Sheath for Completely Femoral Access in Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair Compared to Upper Extremity Access’, CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology, 45(6), pp. 744–751. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00270-022-03064-8.