Medical Milestone: Aorta Included in Organ Classification

The aorta, the largest artery in humans, is now classified as a separate organ, comparable to the heart, lungs, and brain. This medical recognition occurred in the guidelines for aortic surgical treatments of the European Society for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery and the US-American Society of Thoracic Surgeons. This reassessment should be particularly relevant for doctors and clinics to improve the treatment of aortic diseases. The new guidelines clearly recommend bundling aortic care in its own specialty, of course in close coordination with other departments, Martin Czerny from the University Medical Center Freiburg. This step could have a positive impact on the treatment of patients with aortic dissections and other serious illnesses. It may also influence medical studies and specialist training.