The Presbyterian Cardiovascular Institute Aortic Center provides advanced surgical and follow-up care to patients with aortic disease.
Our multidisciplinary team combines years of training and experience with leading-edge technologies, facilities and clinical research to bring high-quality care to our patients. The team includes vascular and cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists and other medical professionals as well as patients and their family members, who are involved in every decision concerning evaluation, treatment and follow-up care. Education is provided every step of the way to allow patients and family members to make informed decisions. This collaborative approach ensures a thorough evaluation of each individual patient’s unique situation to determine and deliver the most appropriate course of treatment.
An important part of education is to alert family members of their own risk. First-degree relatives (parents, siblings and children) have a significantly higher chance of having an aneurysm and should be evaluated by their primary care physician for possible screening. If a relative does not have a primary care physician, Presbyterian has a large network of physicians at convenient locations across the region. Learn More
Your care will begin with a detailed evaluation, which includes your history of prior cardiovascular disease as well as a history of your current aortic condition. If you have had any testing done previously, you will be asked to bring the results with you to your first visit. If needed, your lead physician will order more tests to pinpoint the nature of the problem and devise the most appropriate treatment plan. Our patients usually have a treatment plan in place by the end of the first visit.
The initial evaluation includes:
- General cardiac assessment
- Evaluation of surgery as an appropriate intervention
- Identification of the best surgical procedure for the patient
We can provide support services as needed, including social workers, interpreters and additional medical experts in other specialty areas.
aneurysm
Procedures
Your care team at the Aortic Center will decide whether surgery is needed to treat your aortic condition. If you do need surgery, you will go to Presbyterian Hospital. This facility has the region’s first hybrid operating room equipped to perform complex endovascular and open vascular procedures, putting us on the leading edge of vascular care. Over 80 percent of our aortic aneurysm patients have an endovascular repair. Our patients benefit by experiencing shorter hospital stays, smoother recoveries and a higher quality of life following surgery. Learn More
Follow-up Care
Patients who have had aortic disease are at increased risk for additional problems in the future. We recommend that patients who have received treatment at our Aortic Center make regular follow-up visits to their lead physician and undergo imaging tests as needed to ensure that new issues are not present. In addition, patients are encouraged to monitor their blood pressure regularly, as hypertension is a strong risk factor for aortic disease.
Aortic disease patients who smoke must also commit to quitting. Presbyterian offers a tobacco cessation program. Learn More
