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COMPREHENSIVE
AORTIC CENTER

Life-Saving, Coordinated Care
for Aortic Disease

Aortic disease can be complex and, in some cases, life-threatening. At the UHealth Comprehensive Aortic Center, patients with aortic conditions have access to a multidisciplinary team with expertise across the full spectrum of aortic disease, from advanced diagnosis and imaging to complex surgery, endovascular treatment and long- term care. Cardiac surgeons, vascular surgeons, cardiologists and advanced imaging specialists work together to evaluate each patient’s condition and develop a personalized treatment plan. Whether a patient needs a second opinion, is managing a complex diagnosis or requires advanced intervention, our team brings specialized expertise together through one coordinated approach.

One call activates our aortic team, day or night.

Complex and redo cases welcome.
Call 305-4-AORTIC

At UHealth, we eliminate the stress of navigating complex care. Our 24-hour referral pathway ensures that a single call connects you to a team of experts ready to review your case immediately.

Coordinated Care: We strive to schedule your consultation and advanced diagnostic testing on the same day.
Rapid Access: Whether you are self-referring or being transferred from another facility, we prioritize immediate evaluation.
Collaborative Communication: We work closely with your referring physician to provide seamless updates on your treatment and recovery.

Aortic Conditions We Treat

Our specialists evaluate high-risk and complex cases, offering second opinions and advanced interventions for conditions including:

Aortic Valve & Root Disease: Bicuspid aortic valve, aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, aortic root disease and other conditions affecting the aortic valve and root.
Aortic Aneurysms: Abdominal, Thoracic, aortic arch and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms.
Aortic Dissections & Injuries: Acute and chronic aortic dissection, intramural hematoma, traumatic aortic injury and other conditions involving damage to the aortic wall.
Genetic & Connective Tissue Disorders: Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and other inherited conditions that can affect the aorta.

Our Team of Experts

CIRO AMODIO, M.D.
CO-DIRECTOR, COMPREHENSIVE AORTIC CENTER CARDIAC SURGEON

JEAN MICHEL PANNETON, M.D.
CO-DIRECTOR, COMPREHENSIVE AORTIC CENTER VASCULAR SURGEON

JUAN PABLO UMANA, M.D.
CHIEF OF CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY

JORGE REY, M.D.
CHIEF OF VASCULAR SURGERY

Ready to refer to this team? Call 305-4-AORTIC

Leading-Edge Surgical Innovations

Not every patient requires immediate surgery. We use advanced imaging to monitor your condition, but when intervention is necessary, the UHealth Comprehensive Aortic Center offers the most sophisticated procedures available today:

Minimally Invasive Aortic Surgery

When appropriate, our surgeons use minimally invasive approaches for aortic valve, aortic root and ascending aorta replacement procedures, offering an alternative to traditional open surgery for selected patients.

Aortic Valve Repair

Aortic valve repair can be an option for patients with aortic regurgitation, including those with bicuspid aortic valves. Our surgeons use advanced repair techniques to preserve the patient’s own valve whenever possible.

Valve-Sparing Aortic Root Replacement

When possible, our surgeons preserve the patient’s own aortic valve while replacing the dilated aorta around it. This approach can provide a durable option while helping restore more normal blood flow through the heart.

Ross Procedure

The Ross procedure uses the patient’s own pulmonary valve to replace a diseased aortic valve, creating a living valve substitute. For appropriately selected younger patients with aortic valve disease, it can offer excellent blood flow and the potential for long-term durability.

Endovascular Aortic Procedures

For selected patients, our specialists use catheter-based techniques to treat complex aortic disease, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR) and branched endovascular aneurysm repair (BEVAR).

Aortic Arch Surgery

Our surgeons treat complex aortic arch disease using advanced surgical and hybrid approaches, including hybrid arch repair, frozen elephant trunk procedures and endovascular arch replacement.

Catheter-Based Aortic Valve Replacement

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) provides a catheter-based option for selected patients with aortic valve disease, including aortic stenosis and, in appropriate cases, aortic regurgitation.

Aortic Surveillance & Family Screening

Our specialists provide ongoing surveillance to monitor aneurysms and other aortic conditions, helping to determine when treatment may be needed. Genetic evaluation and family screening can also help identify inherited aortic conditions early and ensure that at-risk relatives receive appropriate care.

Why UHealth Cardiac & Vascular?

Choose South Florida's only academic heart & vascular program. We offer you a unique advantage: direct access to clinical innovations, the latest research, and a multidisciplinary team of experts that work together to treat the most complex conditions and are recognized for their superior outcomes.

Our heart program is nationally recognized and trusted by experts. For you, this means peace of mind and proven results.

Ranked by US News & World Report as one of the top 50 hospitals in the country in Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery
The only Comprehensive Hypertension Center in the region certified by the American Heart Association.
Heart Failure Innovation and Treatment Program
Access to the latest Cardiovascular Research in S. FL, with NIH-funded trials and clinical trials across prevention, imaging, heart failure, structural heart disease, and electrophysiology
Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Program for more precise diagnosis and treatment plans
TAVR program ranks in the top 10% nationally
Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) - Earned the highest 3-Star Rating for aortic valve and mitral valve surgery