Patients with aortic disease who are diagnosed and managed appropriately can expect to lead relatively normal lives, but lifelong management of the disease is required.
- Request an appointment online
- 617-724-4747
Lifelong Care for Patients is Essential
Patients with aortic disease who are diagnosed and managed appropriately can expect to lead relatively normal lives, but lifelong management of the disease is required. Patients need to have control of their blood pressure over their lifetimes in order to avoid hypertension (high blood pressure) and limit the stress on the weakened wall of the aorta. In order to optimally monitor blood pressure, we typically recommend that patients buy an automatic blood pressure cuff to use at home on a regular basis.
Patients are given recommended target blood pressure readings and encouraged to contact their Thoracic Aortic Center doctor if their blood pressure drifts out of range. Patients also undergo periodic imaging studies to look for changes in the size of the involved portions for the aorta. Most of the time the imaging studies are either a special type of contrast-enhanced CT scan known as CT angiogram (or CTA) or a gadolinium-enhanced MRI known as an MR angiogram (or MRA).
The Thoracic Aortic Center follows patients after initial diagnosis and treatment to ensure that the patients and their doctors are doing everything possible to manage their aortic disease. The Thoracic Aortic Center also ensures that primary doctors are kept informed every step of the way.
Request an appointment at the Heart Center 
Call the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center outpatient access nurse at 866-MGH-8910
Discover the Heart Center patient experience
Our approach to patient care brings together a team of cardiac specialists who create a personalized treatment plan for each patient.
