Welcome back, everyone! Behind every successful treatment plan is a team of specialists working together to provide care. Last week, we kicked off our month-long dive into the healthcare professionals who make up an aortic care team. Today, we’ll be discussing cardiac surgeons and their role in diagnosing and managing patients with aortic pathologies. From routine valve operations to life-saving emergency procedures, cardiac surgeons play a central role in the treatment of complex aortic...

A Type A dissection involves the region of the aorta that attaches directly to the heart. Dissections in this region can quickly progress through the aorta and affect blood flow to the heart, brain, and arms. Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/aortic-dissection/symptoms-causes/syc-20369496 Welcome back, everyone! Today we'll be discussing one of the most serious emergencies in cardiovascular medicine, a Type A aortic dissection (TAAD). It happens suddenly,...

Welcome back, everyone! After talking about thoracic aortic aneurysms last week, today we’ll be discussing abdominal aortic aneurysms. An abdominal aortic aneurysm, often called an AAA, is a condition that many people have never heard of, yet it can be serious if left untreated. The good news is that when it’s found early and monitored properly, it can often be managed safely. Here’s a simple breakdown of what an AAA is and what it means for your health. What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm?...