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Dr. Gert Diederick Pretorius, MD

Dr. Gert Diederick Pretorius, MD

La Jolla, CA

Accepting patients

    Who is Dr. Pretorius, Thoracic Surgeon in La Jolla, CA?

    Dr. Gert Diederick Pretorius, MD is a Thoracic Surgeon, who primarily practices in La Jolla, CA with 2 additional practice locations. He is board certified. Dr. Pretorius graduated from University of Pretoria School of Medicine. Dr. Pretorius is fluent in English and Afrikaans, and is currently seeing new patients. Dr. Pretorius’s practice accepts Kaiser Permanente, Medicare, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna and other major insurance plans. To book an appointment or to confirm insurance options, please call Dr. Pretorius’s office at (619) 543-6886.

    What are Areas of Expertise for Dr. Pretorius?

    Dr. Gert Diederick Pretorius, MD is a highly-rated, board-certified Thoracic Surgeon known for expertly diagnosing, treating, and managing a wide array of related conditions or procedures. Utilizing the latest medical advancements and evidence-based practices, Dr. Pretorius empowers patients to confidently navigate their health journey, specializing in Laser Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Pacemakers/Defibrillators, or comprehensive wellness support. Serving the La Jolla/CA community, Dr. Pretorius is dedicated to enhancing lives through expert, patient-centered care.

    Where did Dr. Pretorius go to medical school and complete their residency?

    • Medical School: University of Pretoria School of Medicine | University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada | UC San Diego, School of Medicine, San Diego | Cardiothoracic Surgeon | Associate Professor of Surgery

    What languages does Dr. Pretorius speak?

    Dr. Pretorius and their clinical team can communicate with patients in the following languages:

    • Afrikaans

    • English

    What conditions does Dr. Pretorius treat?

    As a Thoracic Surgeon, Dr. Pretorius diagnoses, treats, and manages a wide range of conditions. This condition information is derived from anonymized insurance claims and highlights the medical conditions most commonly treated by Dr. Pretorius. It provides insight into the doctor’s areas of experience and expertise based on real-world patient encounters from the past two years, updated quarterly.

    Also known as:

    • Heart Failure
    • Systolic Heart Failure
    • End-Stage Heart Failure
    • Congestive Heart Failure
    • CHF
    • Cardiac Insufficiency
    • Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction
    • HFrEF
    • Pumping Heart Failure
    • Advanced heart failure
    • Terminal heart failure
    • Severe heart failure

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • I509: Heart failure, unspecified
    • I5020: Unspecified systolic (congestive) heart failure
    • I5084: End stage heart failure

    Also known as:

    • Hardening of the Arteries in the Heart without Chest Pain
    • Coronary Artery Disease with Angina
    • Atherosclerosis
    • Coronary Artery Disease
    • Silent Coronary Artery Disease
    • Asymptomatic Atherosclerosis
    • Atherosclerotic Heart Disease with Angina
    • Chest Pain from Heart Disease
    • Angina Pectoris

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • I2510: Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery without angina pectoris
    • I25119: Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery with unspecified angina pectoris

    Also known as:

    • Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
    • Other Cardiomyopathies
    • Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
    • Cardiomyopathy
    • Heart Muscle Disease from Blocked Arteries
    • Ischemic Heart Muscle Weakness
    • Uncommon heart muscle diseases
    • Rare cardiomyopathy types
    • HCM (Obstructive)
    • Thickened Heart Muscle with Obstruction

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • I255: Ischemic cardiomyopathy
    • I428: Other cardiomyopathies
    • I421: Obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

    Also known as:

    • Cardiogenic Shock
    • Shock
    • Heart-related shock
    • Cardiac shock
    • Circulatory collapse from heart

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • R570: Cardiogenic shock

    Also known as:

    • Chronic Pulmonary Hypertension from Blood Clots
    • Pulmonary Hypertension
    • CTEPH
    • Persistent high blood pressure in lung arteries from clots
    • Long-term lung hypertension from emboli

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • I2724: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

    Also known as:

    • Leaky Mitral Valve
    • Heart Valve Disease
    • Mitral Valve Insufficiency
    • Mitral Regurgitation

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • I340: Nonrheumatic mitral (valve) insufficiency

    Also known as:

    • Circulatory System Surgery Aftercare
    • After Surgery
    • Post-cardiac surgery care
    • Vascular surgery aftercare
    • Heart surgery recovery

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • Z48812: Encounter for surgical aftercare following surgery on the circulatory system

    Also known as:

    • High Blood Pressure Heart Disease with Heart Failure
    • Heart Failure
    • High Blood Pressure
    • Hypertensive Heart Failure
    • High Blood Pressure Causing Heart Failure

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • I110: Hypertensive heart disease with heart failure

    Also known as:

    • Patent Foramen Ovale
    • Congenital Heart Defects
    • PFO
    • Open Foramen Ovale
    • Hole in Heart (PFO)

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • Q2112: Patent foramen ovale

    Also known as:

    • Chronic Pulmonary Embolism
    • Pulmonary Embolism
    • Long-term blood clots in lungs
    • Persistent lung embolism
    • Chronic PE

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • I2782: Chronic pulmonary embolism

    Also known as:

    • Other Pre-Procedure Examination
    • Various pre-op checks
    • Miscellaneous pre-surgery exams
    • Other pre-treatment assessments

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • Z01818: Encounter for other preprocedural examination

    Also known as:

    • Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Leak
    • Heart Valve Disease
    • Streptococcal Infection
    • Rheumatic Tricuspid Regurgitation
    • Leaky Tricuspid Valve
    • Tricuspid Valve Rheumatic Disease

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • I071: Rheumatic tricuspid insufficiency

    Does Dr. Pretorius accept my insurance?

    Dr. Pretorius accepts most major insurance plans. Important: Please call our office at (619) 543-6886 before your appointment to verify that your specific plan and network are accepted.

    What insurance plans does Dr. Pretorius accept in La Jolla, CA?

    Dr. Pretorius in La Jolla, CA accepts plans from many carriers. While this list is updated regularly, it is not a guarantee of coverage.

    Top Insurances

    • All Other Third Party

    • Blue Shield of California

    • CalOptima

    • Centene

    • Heritage Health

    • Humana

    • Inland Empire

    • Kaiser Permanente

    • OptumRx

    • UnitedHealthcare

    View All Insurances

    Where is Dr. Pretorius' office located?

    Dr. Gert Diederick Pretorius' Primary Practice

    9300 Campus Point Dr

    La Jolla, CA 92037

    (619) 543-6886

    Get Directions

    Dr. Gert Diederick Pretorius' Practice 2

    200 W Arbor Dr

    San Diego, CA 92103

    Get Directions

    Dr. Gert Diederick Pretorius' Practice 3

    9444 Medical Center Dr

    La Jolla, CA 92037

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    What is Dr. Pretorius's NPI number?An National Provider Identifier (NPI) is a unique ID number that identifies doctors and healthcare providers nationwide.

    Dr. Pretorius's National Provider Identifier (NPI) number is 1629385836.

    What common questions do patients ask about Dr. Pretorius?

    Here are answers to patients Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about Dr. Pretorius

    What is Dr. Gert Diederick Pretorius's specialty?

    Dr. Pretorius is a Thoracic Surgeon near La Jolla, CA. A thoracic surgeon is a healthcare expert with specialization in the surgical, perioperative, and critical care of patients with conditions affecting the chest. Their expertise encompasses the surgical treatment of coronary artery disease, lung, esophageal, and chest wall cancers, tracheal abnormalities, and issues with the great vessels and heart valves. They also address congenital anomalies, mediastinal tumors, and diaphragm diseases. Additionally, thoracic surgeons manage airway issues and chest injuries as part of their medical specialty. Contact Dr. Pretorius to book an appointment today.

    Is this Dr. Gert Diederick Pretorius affiliated with a ranked Castle Connolly Top Hospital?

    No, Pretorius is not affiliated with a Castle Connolly Top Hospital, but is affiliated with the following hospitals: UC San Diego Medical Center, Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego. Castle Connolly Top Hospitals are identified through a rigorous peer nomination process, evaluating factors like patient outcomes, quality of care, and expertise. The list recognizes hospitals that excel in 20 or more specific medical procedures, representing the top 25% nationwide. Castle Connolly Top Hospitals

    Where can I learn more about Thoracic Surgeon?

    Explore Thoracic Surgeon with insights from trusted medical experts on EverydayHealth.com, where you'll find the most relevant content and helpful condition guides for up-to date information about symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and more. See all our health guides to find trusted information on medical conditions from our experts at Everyday Health.

    Is Gert Diederick Pretorius accepting new patients in La Jolla, CA?

    Yes, Dr. Gert Diederick Pretorius is accepting new patients at this time.

    Does Dr. Gert Diederick Pretorius offer online booking?

    Please contact Dr. Pretorius's office at (619) 543-6886 for information about online booking, telehealth, or to schedule an appointment.

    How can I make an appointment with Gert Diederick Pretorius?

    Please contact Dr. Pretorius's office at (619) 543-6886 for information regarding telehealth appointment availability or for scheduling assistance.

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