Aortic Conditions & Treatments
Early diagnosis is critical for survival and management of diseases of the aorta. Undiagnosed aortic disease increases the likelihood of life-threatening conditions, including aortic dissection and rupture.
The Aortic Program at the Heart Institute is patient-centric, with its team of specialists providing appropriate diagnostic testing and treatments for the following conditions:
- Aortic aneurysm
- Aortic dissection
- Aortic infection
- Aortic intramural hematoma
- Aortobronchial fistula (ABF)
- Aortoenteric fistula (AEF)
- Bicuspid aortic disease
- Coarctation of the aorta (CoA)
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS)
- Embolizing (shaggy) aorta
- Giant cell arteritis
- Inflammatory aortic disease (aortitis)
- Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS)
- Marfan syndrome
- Penetrating aortic ulcer
- Takayasu arteritis
- Traumatic aortic transection (aortic rupture)
Treatments
The Aortic Program's cardiovascular specialists have significant experience in the most complex techniques and procedures to treat the entire aorta and branch arteries. They will discuss with you all treatment options for your condition, including pre- and post-surgical medical management.
Surgical treatment options include:
- Endovascular surgery
- Hybrid aortic repair
- Hypothermic circulatory arrest
- Minimally invasive open repair
- Open aortic repair
Hybrid Operations
The Aortic Program offers hybrid repairs, which is a combination of open and endovascular procedures. This procedure is mostly used for repair of aortic arch and the thoracoabdominal aortic.
The hybrid technique eliminates the need for cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp in many patients which may make it a safer option for high-risk patients who cannot undergo conventional open surgery. It is especially suited to patients with other significant health problems or a history of prior open aortic surgery.