A unique day of education, support and connection for survivors, families and healthcare professionals affected by aortic dissection.

Overview

Join us on Friday 18 September 2026 for Aortic Dissection UK & Ireland 2026 Annual Patient Day, our flagship annual event held alongside Global Aortic Dissection Awareness Day and hosted by the UK-AS (UK Aortic Society) and their chair Michael Sabetai.

This free event brings together survivors, patients, families, healthcare professionals and charity supporters from across the region for a day of education, awareness, support and community.

Whether your experience is recent or many years ago, you'll find an opportunity to learn more about aortic disease, hear from people who have walked a similar path, and meet members of the medical community dedicated to improving outcomes for patients.

What Will Be Covered?

The programme will explore the complete patient journey, including:

Understanding the aorta and aortic dissection

Recognising symptoms and obtaining diagnosis

Emergency treatment and surgery

Living with aortic disease

Long-term follow-up and aftercare

Patient experiences and survivor stories

New technologies and treatment approaches

Practical issues including driving, benefits and recovery

Improving services for future patients

Additional speaker and session announcements will be made closer to the event.

Who Should Attend?

Patients. Individuals living with thoracic aortic disease, including aortic dissection and inherited aortic conditions.

Family Members and Supporters. Partners, relatives, carers and supporters are warmly welcome.

Bereaved Families. We recognise the devastating impact of aortic dissection and warmly welcome bereaved family members who wish to attend.

Healthcare Professionals. Clinicians, nurses, allied health professionals and others involved in the care of aortic patients.

Researchers. Researchers with a professional interest in thoracic aortic disease.

Why Attend?

For many attendees, the highlight of the day is not only the programme itself but the opportunity to meet others who truly understand the experience of aortic disease.

The event creates a welcoming environment where patients and families can share experiences, exchange knowledge, build friendships and strengthen the community that supports one another throughout the year.

Tickets

Attendance is free of charge thanks to the support of our volunteers and event sponsors. We do suggest a voluntary donation to help cover costs, this is done entirely on an opt-in basis.

To make a donation in addition to securing your ticket, simply select the 'Voluntary Donation' additional ticket type when making your selection.

Advance booking is essential and places are limited.

Please only book for yourself and, where applicable, one family member or supporter. Further information regarding eligibility and attendance arrangements can be found below.

When and where?

This year’s event takes place on Friday 18th September 2026 at The Studios, 7 Cannon Street, Birmingham B2 5EP. Located in the heart of Birmingham, a two minute walk from Birmingham New Street railway station.

Parking is available at Birmingham Snow Hill Station car park (B3 2BJ) and Birmingham New Street station car park (B2 4ND) both around 5 minutes walk.

Disabled parking is available on Waterloo Street. Birmingham City Council requires a orange or blue badge to be displayed.

PROGRAMME

08:15 Registration and Coffee - Join us early to meet your fellow members, patients and clinicians

09:15 Chair's Welcome

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OMG, What just happened?

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09:20 Beginnings – a patient and surgeon narrative

09:45 From Heart to Toe – Your aorta explained

10:10 Spotting an Aortic Dissection

10:25 A medical detective story

10:35 A patient story – 'Me and my type B'

11:00 BREAK FOR REFRESHMENTS

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What can we do about it?

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11:30 Safe transfers

11:55 Emergency Surgery: Treating Type A Dissection

12:05 Grafts and devices – not just string and sealing wax

12:15 Managing Type B

12:25 Meet your anaesthetist, don't forget the perfusionist! ICU and beyond

12:50 BREAK FOR LUNCH

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In Memory

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13:50 Remembering friends

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Options for change?

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14:00 Pathways and SoPs – do we need them?

14:25 The Virtual Ward

14:50 Aftercare – do we need a patient manifesto?

15:10 BREAK FOR REFRESHMENTS

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Living with it – life after a dissection

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15:30 Driving

15:55 Benefits

16:20 Complications and expectations

16:45 Closing Remarks

17:00 Close

Description supplied by the event organiser.