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Walter Reed Performs First TAMBE Procedure, Expands Vascular Surgery Capabilities

News | Sept. 22, 2025

Walter Reed Performs First TAMBE Procedure, Expands Vascular Surgery Capabilities

By Roan Smith WRNMMC Command Communications

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, BETHESDA, MD  –  

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) has successfully completed its first Thoracoabdominal Branch Endoprosthesis (TAMBE) procedure, a groundbreaking advancement in vascular surgery for Department of Defense patients.

The minimally invasive operation repairs thoracoabdominal aneurysms, a rare and life-threatening condition. Led by U.S. Army 1st Lt. (Dr.) Jay Sexton, chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery, the procedure demanded advanced planning, cutting-edge technology, and intensive post-surgical care.

Walter Reed is now one of only three hospitals in the Washington, D.C., region qualified to perform TAMBE surgeries. The new capability expands access to highly specialized vascular care for service members, retirees, and their families while reinforcing the military’s medical readiness.

Supported by newly upgraded operating suites and integrated partnerships across the Defense Health Agency and Department of Veterans Affairs, WRNMMC continues to take on some of the nation’s most complex surgical cases.
For more information about WRNMMC services, visit us at walterreed.tricare.mil.

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