Aortic Center

A PET/CT scan provides high-quality and detailed images of where disease tissue ends and where healthy tissue begins. The scanner also detects metabolic activity of cells, which helps physicians understand changes at the cellular level that could be early indications of cancer.

A duplex ultrasound is a noninvasive test that uses both traditional and doppler ultrasound to understand how blood moves through your blood vessels. Soundwaves show images of vein and artery structure, while also measuring the speed of blood flow.

There are a few different types of duplex ultrasounds based on the area of the body. For example, a carotid duplex ultrasound focuses on the carotid artery in your neck.

An echocardiogram uses ultrasound (sound waves) to take pictures of your heart. 

Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is a type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) specifically for your arteries and veins. An MRA uses magnets and radio waves to produce images of your blood vessels and blood flow. It’s a noninvasive alternative to an angiogram, helping your doctor detect any narrowed or blocked blood vessels.

This exam uses a thin tube, called an endoscope, with a built-in sound wave transducer to help view the heart in greater detail. The endoscope is inserted into your chest via the mouth. Then, the transducer emits ultrasound waves to help produce images. Often, sedatives and numbing agents are provided for your comfort.

Aortic root surgery treats aortic aneurysms and other damage near where the heart connects with the aorta, called the aortic root. There are a few types of aortic root surgery, including aortic valve-sparing root replacement, in which your surgeon replaces the damaged part of the aortic root with a synthetic graft, like an implant, but keeps the existing, healthy valve intact.

Aortic valve repair or replacement is a procedure to fix the aortic valve, a flap that directs blood from the heart to the aorta, and then the rest of the body. Over time, the aortic valve can become narrowed or leaky, and you may need surgery to repair or replace it. You may also have aortic valve problems at birth, known as a congenital heart defect.

In the past, aortic valve procedures were always open-heart surgeries. But now, there are minimally invasive procedure options that require smaller incisions with a faster recovery time.

Cardiac rehabilitation is designed to help you recover and improve your heart health after a heart condition diagnosis or procedure. It involves a combination of exercise, education and lifestyle changes. You may receive recommendations on how to stay physically active, create a heart-healthy diet or stop smoking. Your overall well-being is an important part of your recovery, so cardiac rehabilitation also supports your emotional and psychological health.

Endovascular surgery is minimally invasive surgery that uses small tubes called catheters to remove blood clots from blood vessels without the need for large incisions. During this procedure, a surgeon usually fixes damaged blood vessels and restores blood flow, which can lower your risk of heart attack or stroke.

Aneurysm risk management uses different lifestyle and medical approaches, including medication, to slow aneurysm growth and reduce risk of rupture. You and your doctor may focus on ways to lower blood pressure, control cholesterol, eat a healthy diet, stop smoking, exercise and manage stress.

Similar to endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is a minimally invasive procedure that helps treat aneurysms in the chest – specifically the aorta – and avoid open-heart surgery. Without treatment, an aneurysm can rupture a blood vessel, leading to a heart attack or stroke. TEVAR can also treat tears in the aorta’s lining, called dissection.

During the procedure, your surgeon moves a tube called a catheter through an artery in your leg or pelvis to access your aorta. Then, they place a metal and mesh-lined tube called a stent graft into the blood vessel to reduce pressure and provide extra support.