Ask the Heart Doctor | Aortic Disease Treatments (Part 2 of 2): Surgical Options & Recovery

For more information about aortic disease treatments, please visit https://cle.clinic/41Cdrwx

If you or someone you love is facing surgery for aortic disease, you’re not alone — and we’re here to help you understand what to expect. In this Ask the Heart Doctor video, Cleveland Clinic experts answer common questions about aortic surgery, including when it's needed, the different types of procedures available and what recovery can look like.

They also explain how surgeons decide on recommending open surgery and minimally invasive options, what risks to consider and how things like valve repair, biologic valves and pacemakers fit into your treatment plan.

This is Part 2 of a two-part series on aortic disease. To view Part 1:    • Ask the Heart Doctor | Aortic Disease Expl...  

Chapters:
0:00 Aortic disease: What to know about outcomes and treatment options
1:48 When is surgery needed? It’s not just about size
4:17 When do certain conditions change when surgery is needed?
6:23 Bicuspid aortic valve: Does it raise your risk for dissection?
9:41 What happens during a dissection — and why surgery might be done early
11:41 What types of aortic surgery are there?
13:00 When should doctors operate on a narrowed (stenotic) aortic valve?
15:49 When is it time to fix a leaking (regurgitating) aortic valve?
17:24 What’s the David procedure (reimplantation) and when is it used?
19:20 Minimally invasive vs. open surgery: What are the pros and cons?
20:08 Why external wraps and devices for aortic repair raise concerns
21:41 What’s endovascular treatment? How does TAVR fit in?
23:06 How long do aortic surgeries and valve replacements last?
25:17 What’s life expectancy like after aortic surgery?
25:45 How common is a pacemaker after aortic or valve surgery?
26:56 What medications do patients need after surgery — and how often are follow-ups?
29:53 Can valve surgery affect your vision? What if there's long-term valve leakage?

Learn more about our heart experts:
Cardiothoracic surgeon Lars Svensson, MD, PhD - https://cle.clinic/4fejgVK
Cardiologist Milind Desai, MD, MBA - https://cle.clinic/4lPWd6j
Cardiologist Vidyasagar Kalahasti, MD - https://cle.clinic/45nkMBv

Dr. Svensson is the Chairman of the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic.

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