We are the combination of four hospitals: the General Hospital, the Children’s Hospital, the Women’s Hospital and the Traumatology, Rehabilitation and Burns Hospital. We are part of the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus: a world-leading health park where healthcare plays a crucial role.
Below we will list the departments and units that form part of Vall d’Hebron Hospital and the main diseases that we treat. We will also make recommendations based on advice backed up by scientific evidence that has been shown to be effective in guaranteeing well-being and quality of life.
Would you like to know what your stay at Vall d'Hebron will be like? Here you will find all the information.
The commitment of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital to innovation allows us to be at the forefront of medicine, providing first class care adapted to the changing needs of each patient.
Aortic diseases are relatively common, affecting 5% of the population over the age of 65. Abdominal affectation is much more common in the elderly, while affectation of the thoracic aorta is more likely to occur among younger people.
The main problem is that due to the lack of symptoms it can go unnoticed and is often diagnosed through a study using imaging techniques such as echocardiography or CT. The aorta is almost always prone to dilation and aneurysm before rupture, which is why it is very important to diagnose the problem early and to try to slow it down.
Classically this condition has been treated by surgeons. In recent years it has been proven that the only way to improve diagnosis and treatment is to treat the subject in a multidisciplinary manner. Certainly, when the aorta is broken it is vital to offer prompt, careful surgical treatment, but the medical goal is to try not to break it, or to indicate the surgery before the risk is too high. There are two reasons behind aortic disease developing. Firstly, we find genetic disorders such as Marfan syndrome, bicuspid aorta, etc. And on the other hand, we find hypertension or atherosclerosis. It is therefore very important to have a genetics unit, to take into account family history and risk factors, excellent support through imaging techniques (echocardiography, CT and MRI) and a good cardiovascular surgery team. The Multidisciplinary Aortic Diseases Unit at the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital was set up because most of these requirements are already met.
For 20 years now we have been monitoring all sick people receiving medical discharge after having overcome an acute aortic syndrome, which is a risky condition that can lead to very serious complications. We are one of the leading groups in the protocolised monitoring of this disease. This experience has provided us with a unique knowledge of this disease.
More recently, our interest has expanded to genetic or congenital diseases that may affect the aorta. An important turning point was the creation of the Marfan Syndrome Multidisciplinary Unit in 2009. This Unit, a leading centre in Catalonia, has the purpose of offering patients integral assistance for all their related problems.
To improve the care provided for aortic pathology in terms of prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
To inform specialists and general practitioners when the disease should be suspected: family history, genetic diseases, valvular heart disease, atherosclerosis. Proper diagnostic strategy and control of risk factors (ADHD, smoking, etc.)
Appropriate indications, selection of cases, and intraoperative support for optimisation of surgical or endovascular treatment, in both urgent and scheduled actions.
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