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Aortic Surgery

Aortic aneurysms, dissections, and root or arch disease raise hard questions about when to operate and how. These articles explain size thresholds, procedures like the Bentall operation, and what patients and families should know beforehand.

10 articles

Coronary Surgery Aortic Valve Mitral Valve Aortic Surgery Other Conditions

Treatment Options

Understanding Aortic Root Replacement: Your Options Explained by a Surgeon

An aortic surgeon walks patients through what aortic root replacement actually involves, how the classic Bentall procedure compares to valve-sparing surgery, and how to think clearly about the choice ahead.

Callistus Ditah, MDJuly 24, 2026

Treatment Options

Bicuspid Aortic Valve: How We Decide Between Watching, Repairing, and Replacing

A bicuspid aortic valve is not one condition but a spectrum, and the right treatment depends on how the valve and the aorta behave together. Here is how an aortic surgeon actually thinks through your options and the timing of surgery.

Callistus Ditah, MDJuly 23, 2026

Treatment Options

Aortic Root Replacement: Understanding the Bentall Procedure and Valve-Sparing Options

When disease affects the aortic root, the choice between a Bentall procedure and valve-sparing root replacement can shape the rest of your life. A world-class aortic surgeon explains how these operations differ and how to make the right decision.

Callistus Ditah, MDJuly 22, 2026

Risk Assessment

Understanding Your STS Risk Score: What the Numbers Really Mean Before Heart Surgery

Your surgeon may quote a percentage from the STS risk calculator before your operation. Here is what that number actually measures, what it cannot tell you, and how to use it to make a confident decision about cardiac surgery.

Callistus Ditah, MDJuly 20, 2026

Risk Assessment

Understanding Your STS Score: What Cardiac Surgery Risk Numbers Really Mean

Before heart surgery, your team will likely quote you an STS risk score. Here is what that number actually measures, what it cannot tell you, and how to use it to make a confident decision.

Callistus Ditah, MDJuly 14, 2026

Treatment Options

Aortic Dissection: Emergency Treatment and the Decisions Families Face

An aortic dissection is one of the most time-sensitive emergencies in heart care. Here is what is happening inside the aorta, why the location changes everything, and the choices that confront patients and families in the first hours.

Callistus DitahJune 8, 2026

Treatment Options

Aortic Root Replacement and the Bentall Procedure: A Guide for Patients and Families

When the aortic root enlarges or the aortic valve fails together, surgeons often recommend a combined repair. This guide explains aortic root replacement, the Bentall procedure, and the valve-sparing alternative in plain language.

Callistus Ditah, MDJune 2, 2026

Risk Assessment

Aortic Aneurysm: When to Operate and When to Monitor

An aortic aneurysm often causes no symptoms, which makes the decision of whether to operate or to watch and wait especially difficult. Knowing the size thresholds, growth patterns, and personal factors that guide that choice can replace uncertainty with a clear plan.

Callistus Ditah, MDMay 27, 2026

Treatment Options

Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease: An Aortic Surgeon's Approach to BAV Treatment Options and Surgery Timing

A fellowship-trained aortic surgeon explains how bicuspid aortic valve disease affects both the valve and the aorta, why BAV treatment options depend on the full picture, and how to think about bicuspid valve surgery timing before a crisis forces your hand.

Callistus Ditah, MDMay 6, 2026

Treatment Options

Ascending Aortic Aneurysm Surgery and Arch Reconstruction: What Patients Need to Know Before the Operating Room

Ascending aortic aneurysm surgery and aortic arch reconstruction are among the most complex operations in cardiac surgery. A fellowship-trained aortic surgeon explains what patients and families should understand about surgical timing, techniques, and how to make confident decisions.

Callistus Ditah, MDMay 1, 2026

Second Opinion

Monitoring an aneurysm or facing aortic surgery?

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