Anyone operated for aortic aneurysm, proximal arch and BAV with enlarged root?

[aniros]

Hello Folks from Australia and abroad,

Life has been nice and quiet for us until about 2 months ago when my husband was found to be a ticking bomb. He's been diagnosed with a BAV with an enlarged root (4cm), ascending aortic aneurysm of 5.2cm that goes into the proximal arch and if this was not enough the CT scan also showed a bovine arch. Shock! He's always been a very active man, we did a lot of heavy renovations on our place over the years. Who would have thought that there was anything wrong with him?

We live in Melbourne, Australia and ever since his diagnosis we've been on a roller coaster. We had some opinions on the type of surgery he should have but it's been very difficult to make a decision. Ross procedure, homograft, xenograft, how should the arch be addressed, hypothermia, antegrade or retrograde perfusion of the brain etc? All these questions have been haunting us lately.

I was wondering if anyone has had a similar diagnosis and what was the outcome.

Any recommendations for surgeons? Looks like a few people had surgeries with Mr Skillington and Prof Matalanis. What about about Mr Adrian Pick?

Would really appreciate any feedback or suggestions.

All the very best to you all from the bottom of my heart,
Sorina

 

[Heart Of The Sunrise]

Hi Sorina:

My BAV was discovered in October 2012. My root is dialated 4.9. I am having surgery at the University of Pennsyvania on March 18th.
I have chosen the ON-X Valve with Aortic Graft. Once post op I will start a thread there.I have a thread in the pre-op post. Just had an awesome consultation with my surgeon this past Tuesday. My advice is to learneverything you can about what needs to be done. I choose this approach and it was a very comfortable relaxed meeting with my surgeon.

 

[ski girl]

Welcome Sorina! It all sounds very scary right now but you can be sure that it's all very routine for the doctors and there really is no 'wrong' choice. I never had a choice in the perfusion of my brain though, that's interesting that you do!

The outcome will be amazing, everything 'wrong' with your husband is easily fixed and once he gets through rehab he'll lead a healthy, normal life.

See if you can find posts from allisoninoz, she also lives in Melbourne and will be able to tell you about her experience as well as what she thought of her surgeon - she had her surgery late 2010/early 2011 from memory. Good luck from Perth - it will all be fine!!!