Aorta Dilating - What does it mean?

[Chrisandgary]

Hi guys! I havent been here in so long because Gary (my Hubby) has been doing so well! He had the Ross in 1997, then a St.Judes aortic in 2000 and now his echo showed his aorta is dilating from 4.3 to 5. His cardiologist is ordering a catscan of the ascending aorta. He told me not to worry yet - the echo could possibly be wrong due to the view on an angle (I dont believe this) and that he doesnt need surgery yet - once it gets to 5.5.
Anyone else have this issue? I am freaking out - he is only 37 and has been through so much already. Is there any other questions I should be asking and how exactly do they fix a dilating aorta? And how fast could it get to 5.5?
Thank you,
Christine

 

[Arlyss]

Regarding Aortic Dilation/Aneurysm

Regarding Aortic Dilation/Aneurysm

Dear Christine,

It is so difficult to get the news that you have just received, especially following two prior procedures. But there are experts in surgery of the aorta out there, and they can help you!

It is so important that you get accurate information, and that your husband is evaluated at a center with strong expertise in the aorta. Having had two surgeries already, when your husband has surgery on his aorta everything possible needs to be done technically to make sure that the aortic surgery will last!

I have emailed you some information that I hope will answer some of your questions.

Best Wishes,
Arlyss

 

[PJmomrunner]

I did a search for a thread and came back to find that Arlyss had posted! Hooray for you Christine! I'm sure Arlyss sent you some good stuff.

The thread is: http://valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11701&highlight=bicuspid+aneurysm

Perhaps some of it will apply. You must be worried sick. There's a lot of that on the forums tonight. The good news is you know about the aneurysm and can do something about it.

Take care.

P. J.

 

[tobagotwo]

Ross and others will likely weigh in on this. You won't find much support here for waiting past 5.0 on an aortic aneurism, much less holding until 5.5.

Replacement (and occasionally repair) of parts of the aorta is a fairly common surgery, and many on this site have had it.

Some threads:
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11220&highlight=aneurism+dissection
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11762&highlight=aneurism
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11599&highlight=dissection
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?p=112287&highlight=dissection#post112287

Best wishes,

 

[Chrisandgary]

I have seen that 5 cm is too big in checking all of the past posts. I am glad I came here - I am now on my third mission to get him well again. I couldnt sleep at all last nite and am having panic attacks -How do I get through this again? How bad is it to have #3 surgery?
his cat scan is today at 10:30 - I hope I dont have to wait for the results forever.
Thank you all for your support - I cant stop crying as I type this. I have 4 kids 9, 8, 5, and 3 Five years ago one wasnt here yet, one was a baby and the other 2 were so small they didnt understand. This time will be very hard on them and I dont know how to keep my emotions in check to not scare them.

Ross and others will likely weigh in on this. You won't find much support here for waiting past 5.0 on an aortic aneurism, much less holding until 5.5.

Replacement (and occasionally repair) of parts of the aorta is a fairly common surgery, and many on this site have had it.

Some threads:
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11220&highlight=aneurism+dissection
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11762&highlight=aneurism
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11599&highlight=dissection
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?p=112287&highlight=dissection#post112287

Best wishes,

 

[Nancy]

Chris-

I'm so sorry to hear about Gary. Facing another surgery for both of you is really terrible. But he's young and relatively healthy. He should do fine with a third surgery.

Joe has had three valve surgeries. His last one was fine, and he's a lot older than Gary.

You will just have to take it small step by small step. You can and will get through this. It won't be easy, but it will keep Gary safe.

Try to think your way over the surgical time into the time period when he comes home and is in recovery mode.

I'll be thinking about you. Been there done that.

 

[csutherland]

My husband is in the same boat, with 2 prior heart surgeries. His aneurysm was discovered in Jan 05 in a routine echo. It's 5.2-5.3 cm and they're wanting to "watch & wait" till it's 6 cm. (Unless the upcoming Sept CT scan shows significant growth). They're saying the risk of surgery is greater than the risk of rupture right now.

The difference is, my husband is 30 yrs older than yours and our kids are long gone. I feel for you.

Are you the one who was asking about aortic specialists? Rachel Howell has some good tips on this. She pointed us to one in St Louis when we were uncomfortable with the Springfield dr who did his other surgeries. Unless there's an emergency and we can't travel 200 miles it'll be St Louis for Jerry, whenever the time comes.

Stay with this site. You'll get some great support and info.

 

[901]

I just had the Bentall procedure (replacement of the ascending aorta). In my case, the size of the aorta itself wasn't the concern but the rate of change. When my anneurysm was originally identified, it was at 5 cm. Each year, I'd go in for a Card visit and they would do a CT scan and watch the aortic diameter. I went for several years with no change. This year, the dimension changed to 6 cm and the Card immediately sent me to see the surgeon.
So, although some members on this site have had disections at less than 5 cm, the concern is usually with rate of diameter change more than any specific diameter.

 

[Chrisandgary]

Thank you for all of your encouragement! I am confused on the size. There seems to be a lot up for interpretation.
In 97 Garys root was 4.4 with severe aortic insufficiency-the Ross was then scheduled and performed
In 00 the root was 4.2 status post Ross procedure. Then he had a St.Judes Mechanical 4 weeks later.

I dont have the values of any other time but these 2 were both the clue he needed surgery

Now the cardio says he was at 4.3 in December of 04 and now 5 in May of this year. Shouldnt I have been told he was at 4.3 in Dec.? It is my fault too for not getting copies of everything and reading myself. He was just doing so well I started feeling nothing was gonna happen again.

Just waiting....for the cat scan results..\
Thank you all again and anyone have a NY or NJ surgeon/aortic specialist name?

 

[tobagotwo]

Columbia seems to be the favored place in New York City. I don't know doctors' or surgeons' names. Checking them on the web is a good option.

Boston has Brigham and Women's and Mass General, both well rated.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ is where I had my valve replaced, but it didn't involve any dacron work, and they refuse to recommend their surgeons by particular expertise over the phone, saying, "our doctors are all good." Nice sentiment, and true to my best knowledge, but I'd have liked a more practical response.

Was delighted to find this video of my valve surgeon, Dr. Tyrone Krause, performing this beating-heart coronary artery bypass: http://www.rwjuh.edu/redirect.asp?u...ttp://www.or-live.com/robertwoodjohnson/1182/

RWJUH is an advanced center. Although they are not advertising robotic cardiac surgery, they do use the DaVinci robot surgical equipment for prostate surgery. This is the machine currently being used in Florida for robotic (endoscopic) heart surgery. Besides the beating-heart coronary bypasses, their list of procedures prominently includes "Minimally invasive surgery for repair and replacement of diseased cardiac valves," "Repair of aneurysms of heart and aorta," and "Repair of dissections of the coronary vessels." They also do "Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation" procedures. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Ranked Fifth Nationally in the List of ?Exceptional Hospitals? for Patient Safety by Consumers Digest and Leapfrog Group (I never heard of that list either - how did Consumers Digest get involved?).

If you are unhappy with what you find closer to home, you may want to check them out.

Best wishes,