FEATURE STORY
Introducing the
Aortic Heart Center
Innovative new center focuses on providing quality
care for patients with diseases of the aorta
from U.S. News & World Report for AAA
repair,” he says.
About 140 patients underwent aortic
operations last year at Baylor Scott &
White and numerous other patients
were treated nonoperatively. “Our goal
is to treat aneurysms and dissections
in the most effective, minimally invasive
way, and with quality operative and
he aorta is the largest artery of the
“To achieve the best outcomes for all
nonoperative care,” Dr. Roberts adds.
human body. Oxygen-rich blood aortic patients, a focused team involving enters the aorta and the heart many disciplines is necessary, including For more information on how to support
pumps the blood out to the rest of the cardiac surgeons, vascular surgeons, cardiovascular research initiatives, please
body. A variety of diseases and conditions cardiac anesthesiologists, intensive care contact Melissa Dalton at 214.820.2705 or
can cause damage to the aorta and put specialists, hypertension specialists and [email protected].
patients at great risk. These conditions specialized radiologists,” Dr. Roberts include atherosclerosis (hardening of explains. “Operations for aortic conditions the arteries), hypertension (high blood are usually high risk and are often done pressure), genetic conditions, connective as an ‘after hours’ emergency. Having an tissue disorder and injury. expert team on the medical staff always
When affected by disease, the aorta
can split (dissection) or dilate (aneurysm).
In either case, the rupture may have life-
available at our Dallas campus is a great
benefit to patients.”
Symptoms of aortic dissection
threatening implications. These conditions often include severe chest or back
require timely and specialized treatment. pain, mimicking those of other diseases
The Aortic Center of Baylor Scott & White and making it especially challenging
Heart and Vascular Hospital – Dallas is to diagnose. However, when an aortic
poised to become one of the few Texas dissection is detected early and treated
centers focused on diagnosing and treating promptly, the chance of survival can
aortic disease and its complications to greatly improve.
bring vital care to those in need.
Dr. Charles Roberts, chair of the Department of
Cardiac Surgery and chief of Cardiovascular Services
at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas
“The national average rate of mortality
One of the Aortic Center’s biggest
in surgeries for aortic dissection is 20
champions is Charles Roberts, MD. percent. Our team tries to achieve
Dr. Roberts serves as chair of the results well below this benchmark. We
Department of Cardiac Surgery and believe this is more easily achieved in an
chief of Cardiovascular Services at Baylor institution such as Baylor Scott & White—
University Medical Center at Dallas. His where these high-risk procedures are
vision for the Center is to establish it as performed more frequently. In abdominal
a national referral center that provides aortic aneurysms, often called AAA, the
patients timely and convenient access to results are also excellent. Baylor Scott &
experts who focus on the treatment of White Heart and Vascular Hospital – Dallas
the many aortic-related issues. just received a High Performing rating
New Center to Feature Illustrations
from an Artist Who Heals…
Several years ago, during a Johns Hopkins University Max Broedel, who was
summer research experience School of Medicine in responsible for starting the
at the National Institutes of Baltimore. Together, the Department of Art as Applied
Health in Bethesda, Md., Dr. illustrator and the surgeon to Medicine in the teaching and
Charles Roberts watched his created vivid illustrations of research facility. Schlossberg
father, Dr. William Roberts, cardiovascular conditions in became the premier medical
collaborate with medical pen-and-ink and charcoal. illustrator of his generation and
illustrator Leon Schlossberg.
Schlossberg learned
earned a Lifetime Achievement
Schlossberg made monthly under the original medical Award from the Association of
visits to the lab from the illustrator at Johns Hopkins, Medical Illustrators in 1990.
6
Continued on pg 7
THE COMPASS / BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE FOUNDATION NEWS / FALL 2019