DR. MARK J. RUSSO, MD, MS
 Contact Us         
(732) 235-7231
  • Home
    • News >
      • COVID-19 Info
      • Publications >
        • 404 >
          • Aortic Landing
          • Morris Essex - The Vigor is Back
          • TAVR Landing
          • Morris Essex - A Better Heart Valve Fix
          • Mark Russo receives STS Presidents Awards
          • Mark Russo receives TSFRE Award
          • Mark Russo Named Healthcare Hero
      • Videos
    • Minimalist Therapies >
      • Home-BU >
        • Home
        • Home 112720
        • Home_11302020
        • Home >
          • Home
        • Home
        • Home >
          • Home
          • Home
  • Aortic Valve
    • Aortic Stenosis
    • Aortic Insufficiency
    • Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery
    • Bicuspid Aortic Valve
  • Mitral Valve
    • Mitral Valve Repair
    • Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery
    • Mitraclip
  • TAVR
    • TAVR Evalulation
    • Low Risk TAVR
  • Aortic Aneurysms
    • Aortic Aneurysm Surveillance
    • Valve Sparing Aortic Root
    • Aortic Dissection
    • The Aorta >
      • Aortic Valve
      • Aortic Root >
        • Aortic Root Aneurysm
      • Ascending Aorta
      • Aortic Arch >
        • Aortic Arch Aneurysm
      • Descending Aorta >
        • Descending (Thoracic) Aortic Aneurysm
        • Thoraco-Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
      • Abdominal Aorta >
        • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
  • Clinical Trials
    • JenaValve
    • CLASP MR - PASCAL
    • CLASP TR - PASCAL
    • SUMMIT - Tendyne
    • Repair MR
    • EarlyTAVR
    • Accurate
  • Appointment
    • Office Visit
    • One Stop Workup
    • Prior to Surgery
    • Patient Handbook
    • After Surgery
  • 2nd Opinion

My family member has been diagnosed with aortic disease, should I also be screened for an aortic condition?


Aortic disease is often insidious. Most people with aortic aneurysms experience no symptoms, unless the aneurysm is extremely large or an aortic dissection occurs. In most cases, aortic disease is discovered incidentally while being tested for other reasons.    
 
15-25% of people with  aortic aneurysms have a 1st degree relative with history of aortic disease. Therefore, people with a strong family history of aortic disease or known connective tissue disease, such as Marfan's or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, should be screened for aortic disease.
 
Other risk factors for aortic disease include: hypertension (aka high blood pressure), high cholesterol, diabetes, cigarette smoking, trauma, and inflammatory diseases of the aorta (aortitis).
 
According to the American Heart Association:

  • Aortic imaging is recommended for first-degree (eg, mother, father, sister, brother, son, or daughter) relatives of patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm and/or  aortic dissection  to identify those with asymptomatic disease.  

  • If one or more first-degree relatives of a patient with known thoracic aortic aneurysm and/or  aortic dissection are found to have thoracic aortic dilatation, aneurysm, and/or  aortic dissection, then imaging of second-degree relatives (eg, aunt, uncle, or cousin) is reasonable.

  • If one or more first-degree relatives of a patient with known thoracic aortic aneurysm and/or aortic dissection are found to have thoracic aortic dilatation, aneurysm, or  aortic dissection , then referral to a geneticist may be considered.

  • If the mutant gene (FBN1, TGFBR1, TGFBR2, COL3A1, ACTA2, MYH11) associated with aortic aneurysm and/or  aortic dissection  is identified in a patient, first-degree relatives should undergo counseling and testing. Only the relatives with the genetic mutation should undergo aortic imaging.
Appointment - 732-235-7231
​Patients:   We are committed to providing you with an appointment within 7 days of your request. For your convenience, Telemedicine Consults are available.   If you have questions in the meantime, please   Ask Our Experts.
Patient   Appointments   -  732-235-7231

​ Physicians:   Our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a weeks, to assist in the care of your patients and to facilitate urgent, emergent and elective transfers at the local, regional, national and international levels​
RWJUH Transfer Center   -   732-427-5725
About Dr. Russo
Telemedicine
Aortic Aneurysms
Minimally Invasive Surgery
TAVR
Mitraclip
Clinical Trials

2nd Opinion
Ask Dr. Russo
Getting a second opinion can provide peace of mind and confidence that you have been diagnosed appropriately and understand of all your treatment options. 
​Send your non-urgent questions regarding your aortic,  heart, and vascular conditions via email.

Mark J Russo, MD, MS
 Chief, Cardiac Surgery

Director, Structural Heart Disease
Associate Professor of Surgery
​
​Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Robert Wood Johnson
University  Hospital 
​125 Paterson St
​New Brunswick, NJ  ​08901

Office: 732-235-7231
Fax:   
732-235-8963​
Expert in Complex Aortic  Disease, Valve Surgery, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Repalcement (TAVR) , and Mitraclip
Picture
(c) Mark Russo 2020
Dr. Russo performs the full range of cardiac surgery including  Coronary Artery Surgery - Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts; Bypass Surgery;  CABG;  Coronary Artery Surgery; Reoperation; Off Pump Bypass Surgery; Off Pump Heart Surgery; Valve Surgery - Aortic Valve Repair; Aortic Valve Replacement; Mitral Valve Repair; Mitral Valve Replacement ; Reoperatve Heart Valve Surgery;;  Endovascular and Hybrid Aortic Surgery;  Transcatheter Valve Surgery - TAVR, TAVI, ViV, MVIV, valve-in-valve; Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery - Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair; Mitral Valve Replacement; Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Surgery​; Aortic Surgery - Aorta Surgery; Aortic Dissection; Complex Aorta Surgery; Valve Sparing Roots, Heart Surgery for Marfan Syndrome; Aortic Root Aneurysms; Ascending Aortic Aneurysms; Aortic Arch Aneurysms; Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms; Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms; Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms; Aortic Dissections, including Type A Dissections and Type B Dissections; Native Aortic and Prosthetic Graft Infections, including Endocarditis; Congenital Aortic Disease, such as Marfan's syndrome and Loeys Dietz; Transplant Surgery - Heart and Lung.  He was trained by Dr. Mehmet Oz and Craig Smith and Eric Rose.  Read about Matt Millen undergoing Heart Transplant