Augusta, Ga. (October 8, 2025) – Dr. Houman Tamaddon, Medical Director of Vascular Surgery at Piedmont Augusta and recently named one of America’s Top 10 Vascular Surgeons for 2025 by Newsweek, became the first in the region to implant the Zenith® Iliac Branch System (ZBIS), a cutting-edge device developed by Cook Medical for the treatment of complex iliac artery aneurysms.

This milestone highlights Dr. Tamaddon’s leadership in advanced vascular care and the commitment to bringing innovative, life-saving treatments to patients in the Augusta area. Piedmont continues to elevate the level of care available locally, ensuring patients have access to nationally recognized vascular services, right here at home.

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May, the ZBIS device is built on Cook’s Zenith platform and offers a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with aortoiliac and iliac aneurysms. Aortoiliac and iliac aneurysms are types of abdominal arterial aneurysms that involve dilation or weakening of the walls of the aorta and iliac arteries, which supply blood to the pelvis and lower limbs. These aneurysms can lead to blood clots or rupture if left untreated. The ZBIS graft is designed not only to repair the aneurysms but also to preserve blood flow to the internal iliac artery, helping reduce complications such as pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction. To learn more about ZBIS, visit the product page.

“This device expands treatment options for patients who previously might not have been candidates for minimally invasive repair,” Tamaddon said. “It’s exciting to bring this innovative procedure to Augusta and the CSRA.”

In April, Dr. Tamaddon also became the first physician in Georgia to perform a procedure using Cook Medical’s Zenith Alpha Thoracic Endovascular Graft (ZTA2). The ZTA2 is the first aortic device on the market designed to accommodate CO₂ flushing, designed to reduce the risk of complications related to air embolism.