Narayana RN Tagore Hospital in Mukundapur has seen a consistent increase in the number of patients presenting with complex and super-complex aortic diseases due to the growing recognition of the aorta as a unique and vital organ. This highlights the need for increased public and clinical awareness regarding prompt diagnosis and treatment of aortic conditions.

Dr. Atanu Saha, Senior Consultant– Cardiac Surgery at Narayana RN Tagore Hospital, Dr. Shuvro H. Roy Choudhury, Director & Clinical Lead, Interventional & Endovascular Radiology, Dr. Hari Govind Varma, and Dr. Raja Chakravarty graced the press conference.

The largest artery in the body, the aorta, is essential for providing oxygenated blood to all of the body’s major organs. Because of the complexity of diseases that affect it and the specialized surgical skills needed for treatment, it has been reclassified as a separate organ system due to recent medical developments. Accurate diagnosis, sophisticated imaging, and coordinated multidisciplinary therapy are necessary for conditions such as aortic aneurysms, dissections, and complicated aortic arch and thoraco-abdominal diseases. Since the symptoms frequently mimic those of cardiac emergencies, especially acute heart attacks, many of these instances are discovered after the fact.

For the assessment and treatment of advanced aortic diseases, Narayana RN Tagore Hospital has received patients in recent years from all over Eastern India, including Odisha (Bhubaneswar), Mizoram, Manipur, and other regions. Patients from other nations, like Bhutan, have also received treatment at the institution. Because these disorders frequently appear with acute chest discomfort, doctors observe that about 30% of aortic cases are initially misdiagnosed as heart-related issues. Time is crucial for survival since, unlike heart attacks, acute aortic events can progress quickly and have a very high risk of death during the first 24 hours if not detected and treated promptly.

Doctors stress the need of identifying warning signals such as abdominal pain, sudden chest or back pain, unexplained dyspnea, and uncontrolled blood pressure as awareness of aortic disorders rises. Early imaging-based examination and structured screening of high-risk patients can be crucial in identifying aortic problems at a stage where prompt management can greatly improve long-term outcomes and survival.

Until they become emergencies, aortic illnesses are frequently silent or misdiagnosed. Delays in diagnosis are often caused by symptoms that are similar to those of heart attacks. When patients complain of chest pain, early utilization of CT scans and echocardiograms (ECHO) can help distinguish aortic issues from cardiac reasons and direct appropriate treatment. In such circumstances, self-medication or postponing seeking medical help should be rigorously discouraged.

Priyanka Dutta