Aortic root surgery is a complex procedure used to treat damage to the aorta and the aortic valve caused by an aortic root aneurysm.
The aorta is the body’s largest blood vessel, and it’s vital to your blood and oxygen supply. Aortic root surgery lets us address this condition before it can lead to an aortic dissection.
The vascular and heart surgeons at our Complex Aortic Center combine their expertise to determine the least invasive, most effective surgical options for patients with aortic root aneurysms and other conditions. We’re one of the few programs in in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., region that can treat even the most challenging cases. Our doctors often care for patients even when they’ve been told by other providers that they can’t have surgery.
What to expect from aortic root surgery
This surgery involves removing the damaged section of your aorta and replacing it with an artificial tube known as a graft. We can replace the aortic valve or, ideally, preserve it through valve-sparing surgery.
After surgery, you’ll recover in the hospital for several days before going home. It takes about 6 weeks for the body to heal from the procedure, so you’ll need to avoid lifting heavy objects during that time.
You’ll need to control your blood pressure after aortic root surgery, as high blood pressure can increase the risk for future aneurysms. Your doctor may prescribe medication to reduce your risk of forming dangerous blood clots.
Conditions
Aortic Root Aneurysm
An aortic root aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of the point of the aorta that exits the heart, which is where the aortic valve is located.
Tests
Angiogram (Angiography)
An angiogram is a special X-ray taken as a special dye is injected through a thin, flexible tube called a catheter to detect blockages or aneurysms in blood vessels.
Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive way to diagnose and treat a variety of heart and vascular conditions by guiding thin, flexible tubes called catheters through blood vessels to problem areas.
Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
The cardiac computed tomography scan, or cardiac CT, uses X-rays to create three-dimensional images of your heart and blood vessels.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your heart.
Our providers
Location: Change location Enter your location
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Thelma Dianne Aguilar, AGACNP
Cardiac Surgery
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Ammar S Bafi, MD
Valvular Disease Cardiology, Structural Heart Disease Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery
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Keki Balsara, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Brenda Jean Beckett, CRNP
Cardiothoracic Surgery
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Brian Thomas Bethea, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Cierra Bruck, PA-C
Cardiac Surgery
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Ashley Chenoweth, AGACNP-BC
Cardiac Surgery
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Jeffrey E. Cohen, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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John V Conte, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Laura Lee Cramer-Joyce, ANP-BC
Cardiac Surgery
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Susan L. Davis, ACNP-BC
Cardiac Surgery
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Dureaden Khan, PA
Cardiac Surgery
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Thomas Edward MacGillivray, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Nicole M Monte-Bovi, AGACNP-BC
Cardiac Surgery
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Elizabeth C. Sullivan, ANP-BC, CRNP
Cardiac Surgery
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Jonathan R. Gower, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgery
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Our locations
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MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
201 E. University Pkwy. Baltimore, MD 21218
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
110 Irving St. NW Washington, DC 20010
Ask MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute
Have general questions for our heart and vascular program? Email us at AskMHVI@medstar.net. If you have clinically-specific questions, please contact your physician’s office.