Aortic Dissection

[almost_hectic]

Spent the day in the ER. Started the day with a scheduled CT scan. Left the medical center and got to work when they called and told me to get myself directly to the ER right away. CT scan revealed what they thought was aortic dissection. Got to the ER and battery of tests and they said it wasn't aortic dissection and the fact that I presented with zero symptoms they would expect from someone experiencing dissection confirmed what the tests revealed and meant I wouldn't be rushed into surgery. Thankfully! They said what the earlier radiologist was seeing was something like trapped fluid or something remaining from my AVR surgery last year. Anyone ever heard anything similar? The doctors and surgeons conferred and sent me home. I have a follow up appt with the surgeons office next week so I can get a better explanation of what they were telling me today. I'm just relieved because if it was something they wouldn't have sent me home. Better safe than sorry I guess but not a fun day being back in the hospital waiting and wondering.

 

[AZ Don]

Wow, rough day to say the least. Never heard of something like that. CT scan is how they diagnose aortic dissection. Sounds like the earlier radiologist misread it - everyone makes mistakes sometimes.

 

[pellicle]

I think its amazing you're not wound up more than you are!

So glad to hear that you don't need an emergency surgery.

like you say ... better safe than (everyone else) sorry (cos you're dead).

Best Wishes

 

[HopefulHeart]

Something similar to that happened to me back when my BAV and Aortic Aneurysm were first diagnosed. I went in for an echo in order to find out what was causing my heart murmur. The echo tech thought he saw a tear in my aortic wall. He kept asking me if I had any chest pain or trouble breathing which I did not. The tech called in one of the Cardiologists and had them look at the echo. The Cardiologist confirmed that it was just something they call "artifact" which is, I believe, when sound waves bounce off of bone and create images of things that are not really there. So they sent me home. Your situation is different as CT is supposed to be more accurate. I agree with AZ Don, it sounds like the first radiologist to read the scan actually misread it....which on the one hand is unfortunate as it caused you a lot of extra stress and worry that was not necessary. Plus extra time spent at the hospital as well as extra bills that you'll have to pay. But on the other hand, aortic dissection is very serious and can quickly result in death. So in that sense I guess it's good the Dr's erred on the side of caution. Glad that you were okay and did not have to have surgery.

 

[almost_hectic]

I think its amazing you're not wound up more than you are!

So glad to hear that you don't need an emergency surgery.

like you say ... better safe than (everyone else) sorry (cos you're dead).

Best Wishes

I think as long as i remained in a state of disbelief, I was able to suppress the fear and anxiety, but it was definitely a struggle to suppress freaking out at the two options... the first being another open heart surgery one year after my first, or that i could simply drop dead. Its like knowing someone is in the room but as long as you dont look at them you can pretend they aren't there. i still want to get a better understanding of what was on the scan if it wasn't dissection. Not quite sure I understand how it can be retained fluid form the first surgery?... is that like a small pocket of pericardium or something? Sounds confusing to me...

 

[honeybunny]

What a scare! Glad all is well. Keep us posted.

 

[almost_hectic]

Well I met with my surgeon yesterday for a follow up visit from last weeks ER visit. He explained the CT scan confusion to me. The first radiologist (not at the hospital) misread the results because of a couple factors, he probably wasn't familiar with my full history. And also because he was doing a CT scan without contrast.

Nevertheless, my surgeon explained that prior to surgery when i had an aneurysm its like a balloon expanding (obviously) but that it pushes the surrounding tissue out of the way making a pocket of space it fills as it grows. After the aneurysm is removed the new graft doesn't take up the same space in that pocket as its narrower like a normal aorta should be. As the body heals from surgery tissues seal off that extra space and the body fills the pocket with fluid. So on a scan without contrast it looks like the aorta walls have separated and filled with blood as in aortic dissection. He said looking at the CT scan with contrast that they redid, everything from my surgery last year looks perfect and he's very pleased with how I'm doing. Im extremely relieved! And happy!!