It’s Topic Tuesday!
- anirudhakarla
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Welcome back, everyone! When you’re diagnosed with an aortic condition, it can sometimes feel like you’re suddenly meeting a whole new group of doctors. Cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, vascular surgeons, geneticists, and primary care physicians may all become involved in your care.
While having multiple specialists can seem confusing, each member of the aortic care team has a different role. Working together, they help monitor your condition, prevent complications, and determine whether and when treatment is needed.
Your primary care physician: The starting point
Your primary care physician (PCP) is often the first person to identify a potential cardiovascular problem. They may notice high blood pressure, recognize concerning symptoms, or order imaging that happens to reveal an aortic aneurysm.
Even after you're seeing specialists, your PCP remains an important part of your care. They help manage overall health, including blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking cessation, exercise, and other conditions that can affect cardiovascular health.
The cardiologist: Caring for the heart
A cardiologist specializes in diseases of the heart and cardiovascular system. For patients with aortic disease, they may monitor the aortic valve, heart function, blood pressure, and other cardiovascular risk factors. Cardiologists commonly use tests such as echocardiograms and other imaging studies to monitor the heart and aorta over time. They also help determine when a patient may benefit from seeing a surgeon or another specialist.
The cardiac surgeon: Treating the aorta near the heart
A cardiac surgeon specializes in surgery involving the heart and the portions of the aorta closest to it. They commonly treat conditions involving the aorta with operations like aortic aneurysm repair, aortic root replacement, hemi-arch or total arch replacement, and aortic valve repair or replacement.
Cardiac surgeons also play a critical role in acute Type A aortic dissection. Because Type A dissections involve the ascending aorta, they can interfere with blood flow to the coronary arteries, brain, or upper extremities and can cause life-threatening complications. These patients generally require emergency surgery, which is performed by a cardiac surgeon.
The vascular surgeon: The rest of the vascular system
A vascular surgeon specializes in diseases of the arteries and veins throughout the body, particularly outside of the heart. They commonly treat conditions involving the descending thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, and arteries supplying the legs and other organs. Vascular surgeons may perform open operations as well as minimally invasive endovascular procedures, using catheters and stent grafts to treat certain aneurysms and dissections.
For complex aortic disease, vascular surgeons and cardiac surgeons may work together when a patient's condition involves multiple sections of the aorta.
The geneticist: Looking at the bigger picture
Some aortic diseases are associated with inherited conditions. Examples include Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome, and vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
A geneticist or genetic counselor can help determine whether an aortic condition may have an inherited component. Genetic testing may sometimes identify a mutation associated with aortic disease. This information can be important not only for the patient, but also for their family. If a hereditary condition is identified, other family members may benefit from genetic counseling or screening.
Other members of the team
Aortic care often involves more than just physicians. Depending on the patient's condition, the team may include:
Radiologists, who interpret CT, MRI, and other imaging studies
Cardiac anesthesiologists, who care for patients during complex heart and aortic operations
Nurses and advanced practice providers, who provide education, monitoring, and ongoing care
Rehabilitation specialists, who help patients safely return to activity after major procedures
Why having a team matters
The aorta connects nearly every major part of the circulatory system, meaning aortic disease is rarely a one-doctor problem. The best care often comes from a coordinated team that brings together primary care, cardiology, cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, genetics, imaging, and other specialties to monitor and develop treatment plans that account for every aspect of your care.
That's all for this week, folks! See you next time, and remember: keep thinking aorta!
Signing off,
Anirudh Karla
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