Heart and vascular surgeons teaming up to treat conditions of the aorta
Our Complex Aortic Program brings together surgeons from our Cardiac Surgery and Vascular and Endovascular programs.
The aorta is a long vessel that supplies blood to almost all the major organs in the body through the smaller arteries that branch out from it. Treating aortic disease requires the careful integration of surgical, endovascular, and medical techniques to achieve the best outcomes possible. The MedStar Health collaborative team of cardiac and vascular surgeons, cardiologists, and imaging specialists offer state-of-the-art treatment and follow-up care.
Our physicians are expertly trained, highly experienced, and perform more aortic interventions than any other program in the region. We offer expertise for complex repairs, specializing in minimally invasive and hybrid techniques. Regardless of location along the aorta, our cardiac surgeons, vascular surgeons, or a multidisciplinary team, our patients benefit from a wide range of treatment options and our collective experience and expertise.
Conditions treated
Aortic Aneurysm - An aortic root aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of the aorta at the point where the aorta exits the heart, which is where the aortic valve is located.
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Ascending Aorta Aneurysm - An ascending aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of the aorta located just above the heart and just before the bend in the aorta known as the aortic arch.
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Aortic Arch Aneurysm - An aortic arch aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of the curve of the candy cane-shaped aorta, the body’s largest artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
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Descending Thoracic Aorta Aneurysm - A descending aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of the aorta which begins after the subclavian artery branches from the aortic arch.
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Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm - A thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of the aorta, which extends through both the belly and the chest.
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Abdominal Aneurysm - An abdominal aneurysm is a specific type of aortic aneurysm in the abdomen, or belly. It can develop for years without causing any symptoms. You may not experience any noticeable symptoms unless the aneurysm bursts or grows large enough to block blood flow or press against other areas of the body.
Aortic Dissection - An aortic dissection is a tear in the lining of the aorta, the candy cane-shaped artery that delivers oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
Type A aortic dissection: This type occurs in the ascending aorta (the short side of the candy cane) and extends through the descending aorta (the long side). This tear may extend into the abdomen. Type A is more common and more dangerous, often requiring emergency surgery.
Type B aortic dissection: This type involves a tear in the descending aorta only, and it also may extend into the abdomen. These are often treated with a minimally invasive stent.
More serious tears can spread to other blood vessels, heart valves, or the sac surrounding the heart.
Coarctation of the Aorta - Coarctation of the aorta is a narrowing of the aorta, the body’s largest artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
Marfan Syndrome - Connective tissue is made up of fibers that hold your body together and provide support to your heart and other structures. Marfan syndrome is result of a defect in the gene that allows your body to produce the protein that forms these connective tissues and causes abnormal elasticity or weakness in those tissues.
Our providers
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Vascular surgeons
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Jason Ryan Crowner, MD
Vascular Surgery
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Raghuveer Vallabhaneni, MD
General Surgery & Vascular Surgery
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William J. Yoon, MD PHD
Vascular Surgery
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Cardiac surgeons
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Brian Thomas Bethea, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Jeffrey E. Cohen, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Thomas Edward MacGillivray, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Alexander Nissen, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Christian Charles Shults, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Our locations
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MedStar Health Vascular Surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
3800 Reservoir Rd., NW 5PHC Washington, D.C. 20007
877-367-2434
MedStar Health Vascular Surgery at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
3300 North Calvert Street First Floor Baltimore, MD 21218
410-261-8226
MedStar Health Vascular Surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center
106 Irving Street NW Physician Office Bldg. Suite 3150 North Tower Washington, DC 20010
202-877-0456
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.