❤️ WHAT HAPPENS AFTER AORTIC SURGERY? You’ve made it through surgery—but what happens next? In his latest The African Perfusionist post, Emmanuel Mbaka walks patients and families through one of the biggest questions surrounding recovery: “What Should I Expect During My First Week in the Hospital? The First Days After Aortic Surgery” From waking up in the ICU and understanding all those tubes and monitors, to getting out of bed, walking the halls, managing pain, breathing exe

🫀❤️ iT'S #AorticValveDiseaseAwarenessWeek and YOUR AORTIC VALVE MAY BE SMALL… BUT IT HAS A BIG JOB! Your aortic valve controls blood flow from your heart into your aorta and out to your body. When it becomes too narrow (aortic stenosis) or doesn’t close properly (aortic regurgitation), your heart may have to work harder. Some people are also born with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) instead of the typical three-leaflet valve—and BAV can also be associated with disease of the a

🫀❤️ LET’S TALK ABOUT THE AORTIC VALVE because it’s #HeartValveDiseaseAwarenessWeek, led by the Heart Valve Disease Patient Network at Global Heart Hub to which Aortic Hope is proud to be a member. 💓Heart valve disease can develop quietly. Symptoms like breathlessness, fatigue or dizziness may not appear for years… or may not appear at all. Sometimes, the first sign is a heart murmur — a subtle change in the sound of blood flowing through the heart. 🩺It’s not something you

In honor of #AorticDiseaseAwarenessMonth and #AortcDissectionAwarenessWeek, eight leading aortic-awareness organizations unite to amplify life-saving stories during Aortic Dissection Awareness Week Goal: Raising awareness through storytelling, education and collective action Maryland, September 13, 2026 — Eight leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to aortic dissection awareness are joining together during Aortic Dissection Awareness Week (September 13–19) to share power

🫵 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲’𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲. ⭐❤️ 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟭𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀, 𝗔𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 has been sharing the real stories of patients, survivors, and caregivers—because sometimes hearing “I’ve been there” is exactly what someone needs. Whether it’s Aortic Valve Disease, an Aortic Aneurysm, or an Aortic Dissection, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲,

🫀📚 **WAIT… WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!** 😳 Aortic disease comes with a LOT more than a diagnosis. It comes with words. **Aneurysm. Dissection. TAA. AAA. CTA. MRA. TEE. Intramural hematoma. Aortic root. False lumen. Graft. Hypothermic circulatory arrest…** 🤯 And sometimes it feels like your doctor is speaking an entirely different language. You’re sitting there trying to process the diagnosis, the scans, the treatment plan, the medications, the next appointment… while your brain

🔎 It's #AorticDiseaseAwarenessMonth and today is about how DIAGNOSTIC TESTING MATTERS! When it comes to aortic disease, getting the right test can make all the difference. Aortic disease can be difficult to recognize because symptoms may mimic other conditions. Depending on the situation, healthcare providers may use different types of imaging to evaluate the heart and aorta, including: 🫀 𝗘𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘆 (𝗘𝗰𝗵𝗼) — uses ultrasound to look at the heart and

🫀❤️ It's #AorticDisesaseAwarenessMonth and time to THINK AORTA. THINK FAMILY. ❤️🫀 Two simple phrases. But behind them is a BIGGER mission: saving lives through awareness. 𝗦𝗼…𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗔𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲? 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗔𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮 focuses on what happens 𝗕𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘 the diagnosis—helping emergency physicians, first responders and healthcare professionals recognize that unexplained chest, back, neck o

A wonderful day to meet other patients and families who also have to deal with the challenges of #Aortic #Dissection and #Aortic #aneurysm Click on the link below for more info!

Aortic dissection surgery is a life-saving procedure that involves repairing a tear in the aorta, typically using synthetic grafts. The type of surgery depends on the dissection's location: emergency open surgery for a Type A dissection (involving the ascending aorta or aortic arch) and often endovascular repair for Type B (in the descending aorta). Recovery involves a hospital stay in the ICU, followed by a period at home with restrictions on driving and physical activity, a

Today we have a Survivor Story from our friends at Aortic Hope of Riley Price. To hear her fascinating story of survival just click on the link below! https://www.aortichope.org/post/it-s-survivor-series-saturday-featuring-riley-price #THINKAORTA #thinkaortathinkfamily

Today we have a Survivor Story from our friends at Aortic Hope of Bonit Sharma! To check out his story of survival just click on the link below! https://www.aortichope.org/post/it-s-survivor-series-saturday-featuring-bonit-sharma #thinkaortaus #thinkaortathinkfamily

Today we have a Survivor Story from our friends at Aortic Hope of O'Brien Mills. To read this incredible story of survival just click on the link below! https://www.aortichope.org/post/it-s-survivor-series-replay-saturday-featuring-o-brien-mills #THINKAORTA #thinkaortathinkfamily

First responders play a crucial role in recognizing and managing aortic dissection, a life-threatening condition involving a tear in the aorta's inner layer. Early recognition is critical, as delayed diagnosis can be fatal. First responders, including paramedics, are often the first medical professionals to interact with patients experiencing aortic dissection symptoms, making their awareness of the condition and its potential presentations paramount. Key Roles of First Respo

Today we have a Survivor Story from our friends at Aortic Hope of Quinton Huffman. You can check out his story by clicking on the link below! https://www.aortichope.org/post/it-s-survivor-series-saturday-featuring-quinton-huffman #thinkaortaus #thinkaortathinkfamily

Usefulness of Pulse Deficit in Predicting In-Hospital Complications and Mortality in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Pulse deficit—an absent or reduced pulse in one limb compared to another—is a significant clinical sign in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). It often indicates involvement of major arterial branches, leading to malperfusion of vital organs such as the brain, kidneys, or limbs. Studies, including those from the IRAD registry, have shown that

Today we have a Survivor Story from our friends at Aortic Hope of Ellen Burts. To hear her fascinating story of survival just click on the link below! https://www.aortichope.org/post/it-s-survivor-series-saturday-featuring-ellen-burts #THINKAORTA #thinkaortathinkfamily

Today we have a Survivor Story from our friends at Aortic Hope of Sunshine Hance. To read this incredible story just click on the link below! https://www.aortichope.org/post/it-s-survivor-series-saturday-featuring-sunshine-hance #thinkaortathinkfamily #THINKAORTA

Acute aortic dissection focuses on immediate blood pressure control, pain management, and rapid stabilization to prevent rupture, typically requiring ICU admission. Key interventions include keeping systolic blood pressure between 100–120 mmHg, heart rate below 60 bpm, monitoring pulses, and preparing for urgent imaging or surgery. Key Nursing Interventions (Emergency/Preoperative): Hemodynamic Control: Administer IV beta-blockers (e.g., esmolol) to lower heart rate and blood

Today we have a Survivor Story from our friends at Aortic Hope of Valerie Mandala. To hear her fascinating story of survival just click on the link below! https://www.aortichope.org/post/it-s-survivor-series-saturday-featuring-valerie-mandala #THINKAORTA #thinkaortathinkfamily