Your aorta is the largest artery in your body. It runs from your heart down your spine and delivers blood to your vital organs, spinal cord, arms and legs. Because it is such an important part of your body, American and European scientific communities now recognize the aorta as an organ.
Many conditions affect the health of your aorta and lead to aortic disease. If you have aortic disease, you are at risk for life-threatening conditions like aneurysm, dissection, and stroke.
Surgeons with Baptist Health Center for Aortic Care offer the latest open, minimally invasive and endovascular treatments for aortic disease and aortic emergencies.
Mehrdad Ghoreishi, M.D.
Our Approach to Aortic Surgery
Baptist Health aortic surgeons follow the latest guidelines for aortic disease intervention. Rather than watchful waiting, we promote early aortic repair or replacement to prevent life-threatening complications of aortic disease. We work closely with your referring physician to ensure you get the most advanced care possible.
When to Have Aortic Surgery
If you’ve been diagnosed with aortic disease, or have a family history of aortic conditions, it’s important that you are closely monitored. Your doctor will use imaging tests to monitor the size of your aorta. Aortic growth (dilation) can lead to:
- Aortic aneurysm. A bulge that could eventually burst (rupture) or tear.
- Aortic dissection. A tear through all three layers of the aorta.
- Aortic rupture. A tear in the aorta’s middle layer.
Our surgeons may recommend aortic surgery if any section of your aorta becomes larger than expected based on the latest guidelines by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.
Types of Aortic Surgery
Open Aortic Surgery
Endovascular Aortic Surgery
Open Aortic Surgery
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During this procedure, surgeons repair or replace the aortic root (the part of the aorta that connects to the heart) only, without replacing the patient’s own healthy valve.
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During this procedure, surgeons remove the aneurysmal aortic root and replace it with a synthetic tube. The aortic valve that is connected to the aortic tissue in the aortic root is replaced with an artificial valve. Aortic root replacement, is for patients with aortic root dilation when the aortic valve itself is diseased as well.
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During this procedure, surgeons remove the damaged section of the ascending aorta (the section after the aortic root) and replace it with a synthetic tube.
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During this procedure, surgeons use smaller incisions and special tools to repair an aneurysm in the ascending aorta.
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During this complex procedure for aortic arch disease, surgeons replace the aortic arch (the curved part of the aorta with branches to the head and arms) with a synthetic graft. Traditional total arch replacement surgery requires patients’ bodies to be cooled to stop blood circulation. Total arch replacement surgery can take several hours.
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During normothermic TAR, surgeons keep your body temperature normal while they replace the aortic arch with a synthetic graft. Normothermic TAR is a faster surgery than traditional total arch replacement, taking just few hours to complete.
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During this procedure, surgeons repair or replace the thoracoabdominal aorta (the section of your aorta that goes from the chest to the abdomen).
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During this procedure, surgeons repair the aortic valve to correct aortic valve regurgitation (when blood flows back into the heart).
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A redo aortic intervention is a surgery to repair or replace parts of the aorta that have been repaired previously.
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During these procedures, surgeons repair or replace parts of the aorta that have weakened due to connective tissue disorders like Marfan syndrome.
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During this procedure, surgeons repair the aortic valve to correct aortic valve regurgitation (when blood flows back into the heart).
Endovascular Minimally Invasive Aortic Surgery
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During this procedure, surgeons use a catheter to insert a mesh tube (stent) in the part of your aorta that travels through your chest. This tube strengthens the weakened area of your aorta affected by an aortic aneurysm or dissection. There is no incision made during this technique and all parts of the procedure are performed by wire and catheter from the peripheral arteries accessed percutaneously.
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During this procedure, surgeons use wire and catheters with no incision to place stents in the section of your aorta that goes from the chest to the abdomen. These stents support and strengthen damaged sections of the thoracoabdominal aorta.
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During this procedure, surgeons place stents in the aortic arch. These stents strengthen this section of the aorta in people with aortic arch disease.
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During this procedure, surgeons use a catheter to place a stent in the ascending aorta. This stent strengthens the section of aorta just past the aortic root.
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During this procedure, surgeons use a catheter to place a stent and valve in the aortic root. This procedure is for patients with affected aortic valve and aortic root.
What to Expect at the Center for Aortic Care
Surgeons with Baptist Health Center for Aortic Care see patients for initial consultations at our Kendall location.
Advanced Cardiac Surgery Resources
Surgery can feel overwhelming. At Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care, we offer a variety of resources to make the experience as serene as possible.
We combine leading-edge technology, diagnostic imaging and advanced surgical procedures in one spot. With these combined resources, we offer the most comprehensive treatment for complex aortic aneurysms, peripheral aneurysms and peripheral arterial blockages.
We offer a cutting-edge hybrid operating room, integrating advanced imaging as well as endovascular and open surgical techniques in a single location. Our surgeons perform procedures with high-quality angiographic imaging, eliminating the need for separate radiology visits. This streamlined approach enables quicker anesthesia administration and shorter procedure times, and reduces both recovery time and complications.
Immediately after open-heart, thoracic or vascular surgery, you will need a high level of care. We offer critical care units dedicated to our surgery patients to ensure you get the attentive care you need from our specially trained nursing staff.
Successfully performing your surgery is only half of what we do. Our expert team also provides supervised rehabilitation services to help you recover faster so you can get back to your normal life as soon as possible.
Partners in Aortic Care
Our surgeons partner with referring providers to ensure the best possible patient outcomes. We value collaborative communication and monitor each patient closely for signs of worsening aortic disease. Our team follows the latest guidelines by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.
Meet the Team
The multidisciplinary aortic team at Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care includes cardiac surgeons, vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, interventional cardiologists, nurse practitioners and genetic counselors.
To schedule with our team of physicians, call 786-596-1230
Cardiac Surgeons
Interventional & Diagnostic Radiology
Vascular Surgery
Aortic Surgery Clinical Trials
The aortic surgery experts at Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care are leaders in developing new treatments for aortic disease. They do this through groundbreaking clinical studies. Learn more about our robust research program.
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