Our Goal Our goal is to ensure that aortic diseases receive the same attention in terms of scientific research, healthcare funding and public awareness as other leading causes of death in the UK. It is estimated that aortic emergencies (aneurysms & dissections) account for 12-15,000 deaths per annum. The incidence is thought to be rising and many patients simply do not survive to reach hospital. Five times as many people die every year from aortic diseases as, for example, motor neurone disease and yet many people have never even heard of the aorta. We believe that the most effective way of managing aortic diseases is through the development of specialist aortic centres with cardiac surgeons, vascular surgeons, cardiologists and radiologists working across 'specialties' to prevent some of these 15,000 deaths.