Skip over main navigation
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Search
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
The Aortic Centre Trust
  • Contact
  • Donate
Menu
  • Home
  • About us
    • What we do
    • Who are we
    • What is an aortic centre?
    • Meet the team
    • Our Goal
    • Useful links
  • About the aorta
    • What is the aorta?
    • What is aortic disease?
    • Future treatments
    • Case history
    • FAQs
  • Support our work
    • How you can help us
    • Donate
    • Fundraise for us
    • Other ways to help
      • In memory giving
  • For researchers
    • Academic resources
  • Latest
    • News
  • Admin
    • Log in
    • Search
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • What is an aortic centre?
  1. About us
  2. What is an aortic centre?

What is an aortic centre?

An aortic centre is first and foremost a team dedicated to the state-of-the-art of the multi-disciplinary management of aortic disease.  Currently, in most places in the world, patients with aortic disease only come to the attention of an aortic specialist when their aortic problem has reached the point of needing surgery or, worse, when the feared complications of rupture or dissection have already occurred.  

 

As with most diseases, prevention is better than cure and if prevention isn’t possible, early detection and prompt treatment is more likely to lead to the right outcome.

Historically, the aorta was referred to as the orphan or forgotten organ because it ‘fell between’ the territory of cardiac and vascular surgeons. An aortic centre is a multi-disciplinary team of doctors and associated healthcare professionals comprising surgeons, cardiologists, radiologists & geneticists with a specialist interest in the prevention, detection and management of aortic diseases.

An aortic centre is one in which all of the contemporary treatments for aortic disease are available under one roof.  For any given patient, the aortic centre will take care of their aortic disease at every stage. 

Thus, the role of the aortic centre is:

  • to permit early detection through screening of at-risk groups
  • surveillance using the most sophisticated contemporary radiological techniques permitting
  • advice on techniques to slow or prevent the progression of aortic disease through lifestyle choices and medication
  • advising patients on when, and when not, to undergo some sort of intervention or operation
  • performing those interventions or operations using the most sophisticated, contemporary open (conventional) and endovascular (‘keyhole’) surgery to treat or prevent rupture
  • these interventions are frequently hybrid (a combinations) of open and endovascular techniques using bespoke stents and other prostheses specifically manufactured for individual patients
  • long-term follow-up to monitor the development of aneurysms in other parts of the aorta.

Published: 16th November, 2017

Updated: 19th July, 2018

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Louise’s Virgin London Marathon 2020

    Louise’s Virgin London Marathon 2020

    Supporting aortic research in my Sons memory

  • Harrison’s TOUGH MUDDER for James

    Harrison’s TOUGH MUDDER for James

    For my uncle James

  • Isle of Wight Challenge for James

    Isle of Wight Challenge for James

    Louise's son, James was born with Marfan's Syndrome a hereditary disease which causes aneurysms of the aorta and other arteries. Sadly, after three major operations, James died in April 2017.

  • Jullien Gaer addressing the 2018 CPEC conference on endovascular surgery, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China

    Jullien Gaer addressing the 2018 CPEC conference on endovascular surgery, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China

    Spreading the word on aortic dissection

Most read

  • Ercan was fighting fit...fire-fighting fit

    Ercan was fighting fit...fire-fighting fit

    I was a fit young guy...I didn't imagine that there could be anything wrong with me at all, let alone something as serious as this...

  • Support the Aortic Centre Trust

    Support the Aortic Centre Trust

    Help contribute to the great work our surgeons and researchers do

  • Who are we?

    Who are we...?

  • What is the aorta?

    The aorta in a nutshell

  • Our Goal

    Helping to make sure that the aorta is no longer neglected

  • What we do

    What we do is support the treatment of, research into and education about diseases of the aorta, the orphan organ

  • How you can help us

    There are many ways to help us...volunteering, fund raising or just by raising awareness of aortic problems with your friends, family & colleagues

  • What is an aortic centre?

    What is an aortic centre?

    What is an aortic centre

  • Jullien Gaer

    Jullien Gaer

    Jullien Gaer - founding Trustee and cardiac surgeon

  • Future treatments

    Future treatments

    A fast moving space

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Aortic Centre Trust is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales under number 10469145 and registered as a Charity number 1174803