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Understanding Aortic Aneurysms with Dr. Raghuveer Vallabhaneni

Host: Debra Schindler
Guest: Dr. Raghuveer Vallabhaneni, Director of Vascular Surgery, MedStar Health Baltimore Region

The aorta, your body’s largest blood vessel, acts like a fire hose — forcefully pumping blood from your heart to every part of your body. Over time, parts of the aortic wall can weaken and stretch, forming a bulge known as an aneurysm — a silent and potentially deadly condition. In this episode, Dr. Vallabhaneni explains the difference between aneurysms and aortic dissections, discusses risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, and genetic predisposition, and emphasizes the critical importance of screening and early detection, especially for men over 65 who have smoked.

In this episode of DocTalk, Debra and Dr. Vallabhaneni discuss:

·       Types of aneurysms (abdominal and thoracic)

·       Who should be screened

·       Warning signs and when to act

·       How aneurysms are monitored

·       Treatment options, from lifestyle changes to minimally invasive stent procedures (EVAR)

·       Why lifelong follow-up care is vital after a repair

Dr. Vallabhaneni also shares remarkable cases, including treating a 13 cm aneurysm and how imaging advancements have revolutionized care.

Key Message: Most aneurysms grow slowly and can be safely monitored, but they become dangerous when undetected. If you or someone you love is at risk, screening can be lifesaving.

Baltimore-area listeners: To schedule an appointment with Dr. Vallabhaneni, call 410-554-2950.

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.