Aneurysm after AVR

[Baldrick]

Hello,

I'm wondering whether anyone has heard of an incidence of aortic aneurysm developing after AVR. I've had valve repair ('72) and mechanical replacement ('01) and thought I'd be finished with that. Now (pending further tests for backup) it appears I'm developing ascending aortic aneurysm. Just wondering whether anyone else has had this experience. As it never presented before, could the AVR have had a causal effect? Even if it had never been tested for, the surgeon surely would have noticed in '01 if it looked distended then....

 

[Tom F.]

I have heard of that happening, I have also heard of people having ascending aortic aneurysms, having it fixed, then developing another aneurysm on another part of the aorta. I do not know the "why" of it all, and my cardiologist said that I was not at increased risk for other aortic problems because of my ascending aortic aneurysm. But, he said these things do happen.

 

[tobagotwo]

If you had a bicuspid valve, it is probably related to that. An aortic aneurism can develop before the valve has problems, during, or (sadly) after it's been fixed. It's not likely to be related to the last surgery, unless it developed from the stress it was under before the replacement.

I'm sorry you're having this trouble. It seems like you've already had enough of this for one lifetime.

Best wishes,

 

[Les]

My aneurysm showed up after the first AVR with no explanation as to cause. The last echo indicated it is growing slightly.

 

[KathyH]

Sorry to hear you will be facing surgery again. You may want to go thru the posts by one of our members Arylss. She has posted alot of good information about bicuspid AV and Aortic aneurysms.
Kathy H

 

[JimL]

My former cardiologist had me take a test to check the status of my aorta two years after surgery, and everything was normal.

Now, a new cardiologist wants to repeat the test, perhaps at two year intervals, just to keep on eye on it.

I conclude from this that further aortic problems are certainly a possibility; how likely they are, I don't know. My new cardiologist found very minimal indications to convince me to go ahead with a repeat test next fall.

 

[Baldrick]

My thanks to everyone who responded. I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve and the Bicuspid Foundation website was very helpful. I've done a lot of research on the valve and the surgery over the years (including on this site) but the aortic aneurysm business has only come up very recently.

I was just curious whether the change in hemodynamics resulting from replacing a highly inefficient valve with a far more efficient mechanical one would speed the degeneration of aortic tissue which had only ever been used to less flow. My cardiologist said that there was not really evidence to support that theory.

So I've had my MRA, next will be the TEE.

Thanks again.

 

[Gail in Ca]

My heart surgeon at Stanford is an expert. His name is G. Craig Miller.
You can find his e-mail address at the Stanford Hospital/University site and go ahead and write to see if he can recommend anyone in your area.
I would take his suggestion as a great one. He knows alot and is extensively published.
Gail

 

[Baldrick]

Thanks again for the additional responses.

So far my cardiologist is not talking surgery; still in monitoring mode. I will definitely look into the NYC aortic specialist you mention, Rachel, since I am not keen to travel for this thing. I know that the surgeon who did my AVR at Cornell/Weill in 2001 (John Lamberti) has since relocated to CA (I think), so I would need to find a new surgeon. [For anyone in CA, I highly recommend him. I think he specializes in pediatrics but makes occasional exceptions.] I would like to stick with Cornell, though, since my cardiologist is there and I was very satisfied with my treatment there last time.

And, having now reviewed the surgical notes from the last OHS, I think you are right, Adonis, only mild dilation of the AA was noted at that time.

Regarding valves, mine is only 4 years old, has shown no problems, and I'm pretty happy with it (Sulzer Carbomedics R500 23mm). My assumption was that even if the ascending aorta required repair or replacement that valve would stay. Is that not usually the case?

Regards.

 

[csutherland]

5.2 cm aneurysm

5.2 cm aneurysm

I decided to do a search on this subject and came upon this thread. As far as I know Jerry didn't have a bicuspid valve; nobody said anything like that. As I posted earlier on another thread, he found out yesterday that he has an ascending aortic aneurysm that is 5.2 cm. A TEE confirmed it and today some kind of nuclear echo was done, taking over 4 hrs. This was to determine whether he has blocked arteries.

Something in this thread made me wonder if the valve will have to be replaced again. That hadn't occurred to us. We haven't seen the card or surgeon since the diagnosis. Would that depend on how close to the valve the aneurysm is? They did mention that his valve is working beautifully.

Also, I'm just beginning to research this subject, but would a feeling of fullness in the lower throat be a sympton of an aneurysm? He's been noticing that for a while but had never mentioned it till now.

 

[KathyH]

Celia, I noticed I sometimes had trouble swallowing food, choked easy. I suppose fullness in his throat could be related to your husbands aneurysm.
Kathy H