Aortic Center

Aging, injury, heredity, tobacco use and certain illnesses and medical conditions can cause problems with your aorta.

An aneurysm is a ballooning of the aorta, due typically to a weakness within the wall. It carries the risk of persistent growth over time and can burst (rupture), leading to life-threatening bleeding. The abdominal area is the most common site of aortic aneurysms. If you have a small aneurysm that is unlikely to rupture, your doctor may monitor it over time, but as it grows and the chance of rupture increases, you will need a repair.

Unfortunately, the majority of people who have aortic aneurysms do not present with any symptoms, which makes them difficult to diagnose. Most frequently, we detect aneurysms on imaging studies performed for other reasons or when we take a screening image to check for aneurysms in a person who has risk factors.

Occasionally, as aneurysms expand, they may lead to symptoms of abdominal/back pain, and if you have these symptoms, this can indicate the need for more urgent repair due to risk of rupture. A rupture can cause severe pain in your back or abdomen, and in some cases can cause you to pass out due to lowered blood pressure.

Aortic Emergency – Call 9-1-1

Symptoms of an aortic emergency include:

• Sudden, severe pain in the chest, back or abdomen
• Fainting or feeling lightheaded
• Shortness of breath – with or without chest discomfort

• Nausea
• Sudden weakness on one side

We diagnose and treat a broad range of conditions of the aorta including:

• Acute Aortic Syndrome
• Aneurysm
• Aneurysm, abdominal aortic
• Aneurysm, aortic
• Aneurysm, aortic root
• Aneurysm, thoracic aortic (TAA)
  • Aneurysm, ascending thoracic aortic
  • Aneurysm, descending thoracic aortic
  • Aneurysm, thoracoabdominal
  • Aneurysm, aortic arch
• Aortic occlusive disease
• Aortic dissection
• Intramural hematoma of the aorta
• Penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer
• Pseudo aneurysm of the aorta
• Transection of the aorta

Our multidisciplinary team of heart and vascular experts collaborate to identify the best treatment options, and to deliver high quality, personalized care.

Depending on your medical needs, you may see a Doylestown Health cardiologist, cardiothoracic surgeon, or vascular surgeon. Cardiothoracic surgeons typically perform repairs above the aortic arch, while vascular surgeons typically handle procedures below the aortic arch.  Some procedures involve coordinated treatment by both groups of surgeons. 

Our surgeons offer minimally invasive endovascular interventions and complex open surgeries often found at academic medical centers.

Vascular Surgery Procedures

• Endovascular repair aneurysm, abdominal aortic
• Standard endovascular repair
• Fenestrated Endovascular Repair (FEVAR)
• Iliac branch endovascular repair (IBE)
• Chimney/snorkel graft endovascular repair
• Open surgical repair of aneurysm, abdominal aortic
• Open surgical repair of aneurysm, abdominal aortic with excision endograft
• Angioplasty/stenting of the aorta and aortic branches for arterial occlusive disease
• Aorta-iliac/femoral and lower extremity arterial bypass for arterial occlusive disease
• Endovascular repair thoracic aortic aneurysm
• Aortic arch debranching with endovascular thoracic aortic aneurysm repair
• Open surgical repair thoracic aorta
• Endovascular repair type B aortic dissections
• Open surgical repair type B aortic dissections

Cardiothoracic Surgery Procedures

• Aortic arch surgery
• Aortic root replacement
• Ascending aneurysm repair
• Ascending aortic replacement
• Aortic bypass surgery
• Composite aortic root replacement
• Open surgical repair type A aortic dissection

Our Aortic Center brings together the experts and resources to diagnose and treat all problems of the aorta, delivering highly coordinated and personalized care with a focus on safety and excellent outcomes. Heart and vascular experts provide screening, diagnosis, and management for all types of aortic disease and our multidisciplinary providers collaborate to identify and deliver the best treatment options for you – and an outstanding patient and family experience.

A Team Approach to Deliver Optimal Results

Doylestown Health’s fellowship-trained cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons perform intricate repairs of complex aortic aneurysms, utilizing minimally invasive endovascular procedures when appropriate, while also offering the capability to perform technically challenging open and hybrid surgical repairs.

Experience and Innovation

Doylestown Health’s fellowship-trained cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons perform intricate repairs of complex aortic aneurysms, utilizing minimally invasive endovascular procedures when appropriate, while also offering the capability to perform technically challenging open and hybrid surgical repairs.

Highlights:

• State-of-the-art facilities of the nationally recognized Woodall Center for Heart and Vascular Care
• New, technologically advanced Cardiovascular and Critical Care Pavilion
• Endovascular Hybrid Operating Room combines the latest imaging technologies with a fully-integrated and sterile surgical suite, allowing for treatment of the most complex cases
• New Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) with dedicated nursing staff
• Personalized inpatient care by one of our fellowship trained cardiothoracic or vascular surgeons, specialized advanced practice providers, and experienced nurses
• Diagnostic Capabilities - CT scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, duplex ultrasonography, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), and echocardiogram
• Heart and Vascular Rehabilitation