How hereditary is Aortic Aneurysm??

[weekycat]

I just found out something interesting yesterday from my mother.
I didn't know, (or didn't remember), that my grandfather had died of an aortic aneurysm. He was 83 at the time, so I never really thought about it.

My mother also informed me that her brother has one too. Her doctor told her it wouldn't be a bad idea for her to be checked out because of the family history. She had an ultrasound scheduled, but found out that Medicare won't pay for it, so she's not going to do it. Apparenty though, if she were for example, having chest pains, they would. I told her to TELL them she's hav ing chest pains . I just wish she'd get it checked because of the absence of symptoms, but I can totally understand not wanting to pay for it too. Someone told her that most people with aortic aneurysms are middle-aged men with "beer bellys". She's 72 and has always been healthy and in great shape, so she thinks she has nothing to worry about.

I'm not so worried about myself, I'm sure I've been thouroughly checked out during my mitral vavle surgery, but it makes me wonder about my mother, and now the rest of my sibs given our family heart history.

 

[Granbonny]

Jean

Jean

I was only age 61 when they found [email protected] brother-in-law was age 50 when his burst and he died..and found out over Thanksgivng an Uncle had one to burst when he was age 75 and died. No relation. On the other side..Both of them. And no symptoms.. Nor, me....Maybe your family could take up a donation and have her one done..Don't know if ultrasound is same as echo? I think maybe the cost..$600.00..Maybe someone else knows for sure.. Sure would bring peace of mine to her..and you, too...Bonnie

 

[Tony]

Hi Weekycat & Granbonny

Maybe it?s just me but I think the term aortic aneurysm is sometimes used for two different conditions.

I had an aneurysm at my aortic valve. My surgeon replaced the valve with a St Jude mechanical valve (23 mm).

My brother had an aneurysm of the aortic artery going into his belly. His surgery was to replace the aorta with an inverted ?Y? shaped tube made of Dacron. His problem was discovered by an ultrasound which his physician gave him on a hunch. He went from the doctor?s office directly to a hospital bed with surgery within two days. This is the problem that the TV actor, John Ritter, died of.

Tony

 

[weekycat]

I think you may be right, however...

I think you may be right, however...

I was doing some research myself, and found "Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm" and "Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm". So there apparently are two different types.


I wasn't sure which one John Ritter had, and I guess I'm not sure about my grandpa or uncle either, but my grandpa did have heart problems .... and I sent a link of one of the threads here that talked about symptoms to my mother. I just read her reply. She said she didn't think she had any symptoms, but after reading those of some of the posters here, she's "quite sure she does", and has decided to call her doctor on Mon to reschedule the ultrasound!

I'm glad she's decided to get it checked out, it may be nothing, and that's just fine... but in case it is something, I just may have helped to save her life.

 

[KathyH]

I found out last year that I had an ascending (thoracic) aortic aneurysm last year at the age of 48. From what I have read people with bicuspid aortic valves are more prone to aortic aneurysm because it is a weakness when these parts are forming- congential defect. I don't know anyone in my family that had an aneurysm, have a few with AV problems, but sounds like you have a strong family history. I would encourage my Mom and yourself to have a CT scan to check for it. I would think the Dr could get around the insurance thing by the wording he uses. There are alot of good posts with links to some good sites for info listed in some of the older posts on this site.
KathyH

 

[heartyone]

Many families who have had a number of aortic aneurysms, whether thoracic or abdominal, are found to have Marfan's syndrome or a variant of that in their family. So, if it if Marfan's causing the problems, it is indeed hereditary in those cases. Marfan's is a disease of the connective tissue that causes it to be weak and stretchy, it's victims are often double jointed, long-limbed, with their wing span greater than their height.

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

Anortic

Anortic

Hi weekley cat
Soory I haven't talk to you in a while. I hope you had a great holiday!

My dad died from this and my mother just had the surgery in July and is still having all kinds of problems. She had a stoke after surgery and was in and out of the hosp. 6 times. She will never be the same. I am getting checked the next exam when I go to my heart Dr.
SHerrin Hutt