Hello everyone! I hope you are doing well. My name is Alvaro, and today we’ll discuss one of the most dangerous cardiovascular emergencies: Acute Type A Aortic Dissection. A Type A aortic dissection occurs when a tear develops in the ascending aorta, allowing blood to enter the wall of the vessel and split its layers apart. This creates a true lumen (the normal pathway) and a false lumen (the new abnormal channel inside the wall of the aorta). This is a disease that can affec

Hello, everyone! I hope you are all doing well. My name is Alvaro, and today our discussion focuses on acute Type B aortic dissection (TBAD), which occurs when a tear develops in the descending thoracic aorta, allowing blood to enter the aortic wall and create a false lumen. This false channel can compress the true lumen, reducing blood flow to critical branch vessels—and when organs lose perfusion, malperfusion syndrome develops. This is one of the most dangerous complicatio

Good morning, Aortic Hope community! Today we're going back to basics with a foundational topic: the anatomy of the aorta. Understanding how your aorta is built, and the different sections it has, can help you become a more informed patient. When you understand the basic anatomy, you can follow along more easily during appointments, ask important questions, and have more meaningful conversations with your care team about your diagnosis and imaging reports. A Quick Refresher:

Hello Aortic Hope family, We hope everyone has been well and enjoying some of the sunshine as we enter Spring! As we wrap up this month’s Topic Tuesday series, we want to take a step back and connect the dots across everything we’ve covered. This month focused on understanding aortic aneurysms in different parts of the body and the surgical options used to treat them. Whether you’re a survivor, caregiver, or simply learning more, here’s a clear and simple recap of the key tak

Good morning, Aortic Hope community! Today we're talking about a common surgical procedure for aortic root aneurysms: the Bentall procedure. What Is an Aortic Root Aneurysm? The aortic root is the very first section of the aorta, right where it connects to the heart. It includes the aortic valve and the origins of the coronary arteries (which supply blood to the heart muscle itself). When this area becomes enlarged or weakened, it's called an aortic root aneurysm. This is par

l Hi family, Welcome to Another Topic Tuesday post! Today we will be discussing Valve-Sparing Aortic Root Replacement (VSARR) An aortic root aneurysm is a dilation of the most proximal part aorta at the level where it connects to the heart and surrounds the aortic valve. Like most aneurysms, they tend to be asymptomatic but can lead to life-threatening complications if untreated including rupture, dissection and aortic valve disease / heart failure if it stats to stretch on t

Hello, everyone! I hope you are all doing well. My name is Alvaro, and today our discussion focuses on thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA). This condition occurs when a segment of the aorta within the chest becomes weakened and abnormally dilated. If left untreated, this area can continue to expand over time, potentially leading to a life-threatening rupture or dissection. What is a Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm? A thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a condition in which a segment of the

Good morning! Here are the answers to yesterday's quiz. How did you do? 1. How many leaflets does a normal aortic valve have? Answer: B) Three Most aortic valves are "tri-leaflet," meaning three leaflets come together when the valve closes to prevent blood from leaking backward. 2. What shape is often used to describe a normal aortic valve when viewed from above? Answer: B) Mercedes-Benz logo When viewed from above, the three leaflets of a normal aortic valve resemble the Mer

Good morning, Aortic Hope community! This month we covered cardiac imaging from all angles. Let's see how much you remember! Try these 10 questions, and check your answers tomorrow morning, same time! 1. How many leaflets does a normal aortic valve have? A) Two B) Three C) Four D) Five 2. What shape is often used to describe a normal aortic valve when viewed from above? A) Heart shape B) Mercedes-Benz logo C) Square D) Crescent moon 3. During a left heart catheterization, wha

Good morning Aortic Hope community! For Topic Tuesday today, we'll be talking about IV Contrast. If your doctor has ever ordered a CT scan with contrast, you may have heard concerns like: “Is this safe for my kidneys?” or “Can the dye harm me?” Let’s break it down in simple terms, so you know what to expect and when to ask questions. What Is IV Contrast? IV contrast is a special dye that doctors inject into your vein during imaging tests like CT scans. It helps highlight bloo

What Is Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE)? Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is an advanced ultrasound technique used to obtain high-resolution images of the heart and thoracic aorta. Instead of placing the ultrasound probe on the chest, the probe is inserted into the esophagus, which lies directly behind the heart. Because the esophagus sits so close to the heart and the aorta, TEE provides clearer and more detailed images than standard echocardiography in many sit

Welcome back, everyone! We’re picking up where we left off yesterday to talk about another way doctors can take a look at your heart: transthoracic echocardiography. Specifically, if your doctor wants to take a closer look at how your heart is working, rather than if all the arteries are open like they would using a left heart catheterization as we discussed yesterday, one of the most common tests they may order is a transthoracic echocardiogram, often referred to as a TTE or

Good morning everyone! Today we're talking about something many of you have experienced: CT scans. If you've been diagnosed with aortic disease or had aortic surgery, you've probably had one (or several!) of these imaging tests. Let's break down what they are and why they are so useful for your doctor. What Is a CT Scan? CT stands for "computed tomography" and works like a 3D X-ray that creates detailed pictures of the structure that is being scanned. Unlike a regular X-ray t

https://www.tctmd.com/news/valve-valve-tavr-mortality-adverse-events-similar-redo-surgery-30-days Open heart surgery is more than just a medical procedure—for most patients, it is a major life event with physical, emotional, and mental manifestations. Valve repair or replacement surgery is one of the most common types of cardiac operations. Many patients have bioprosthetic (tissue) valves, which are designed to mimic our native valve function, while avoiding the need for long

Welcome back, everyone! If you’ve been told you need surgery on your aortic valve, you’ll probably hear the term SAVR, or surgical aortic valve replacement. Even though it sounds intimidating, SAVR is a well-established operation that has helped millions of people live longer, healthier lives. Let’s break down what it is and why it’s done. What does the aortic valve do? The aortic valve sits between the heart and the aorta, opening and closing with every heartbeat to keep blo

🫀 Topic Tuesday: Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV) Heart Valve Awareness Month At Aortic Hope, we talk often about awareness — because awareness truly saves lives. Did you know that 1–2% of the population is born with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV)?¹ Instead of three leaflets, the aortic valve has two. It’s the most common congenital heart defect — and many people don’t discover it until adulthood. For some in our community, it was found because of a murmur. For others, it was disc

Understanding Aortic Stenosis Aortic stenosis is one of the most common and serious valve diseases. It occurs when the aortic valve opening becomes narrowed, making it harder for blood to leave the heart and reach the body. At first, the heart compensates. Over time, that compensation fails — and symptoms appear. Aortic stenosis prognosis: What 6 facts should you know? Heart-valve-surgery.com n.d. https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/aortic-stenosis-prognosis.php (accessed Feb

Welcome to 2026, Aortic Hope Family! We are hoping for a happy, safe, and healthy new year for all. If you’ve been following along our weekly blog posts this month, you’ve been introduced to some of the basics of the aorta. As we enter the colder months, great attention is placed on avoiding colds and the flu. However, today we want to raise awareness about an association that many patients may not be aware of: the link between cold temperatures, blood pressure, and aortic di

Welcome back, everyone! Today, we’ll be discussing aortic dissections. An aortic dissection is a serious and scary diagnosis to hear. The name alone can sound overwhelming, and the details are often explained quickly during a stressful moment. One of the first things doctors talk about is whether the dissection is Type A or Type B. While that may sound like medical shorthand, the difference is actually pretty simple — and very important. What is an aortic dissection? The aort

Picture from Heart Foundation - NZ ❤️ Understanding Aortic Aneurysms An aortic aneurysm occurs when a section of the aorta—the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body—becomes weakened and begins to bulge or stretch. Over time, this bulge can grow larger and, in severe cases, may rupture, which is a life-threatening emergency. 📍 Types of Aortic Aneurysms There are two main types, based on where they occur: • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA): Form