Can someone please tell me the normal size range for the ascending aorta? By MRA and Echo I am getting readings that measure a section of the ascending aorta at of 3.7-3.9 depending which test or view? These dimesions haev not changed much sionce my BAV replacement. I wish my surgeon would have just grafted this area, but he didn't.This upsets me. He just replaced the valve and the root which was measuring 4.8 mm.Insight please?
insight please
- Thread starter Tera
- Start date
Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:
ElectLive
Well-known member
Please see chart below from the 2010 ACC/AHA Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Thoracic Aortic Disease:
So, you do measure above normal, but not really in the normal surgical range. You bring up a very reasonable question, though, in terms of a "preemptive strike" approach. I wish I had an answer, but I do not. Did you surgeon comment on it either before or after surgery?
So, you do measure above normal, but not really in the normal surgical range. You bring up a very reasonable question, though, in terms of a "preemptive strike" approach. I wish I had an answer, but I do not. Did you surgeon comment on it either before or after surgery?
Thank you so very much, ElectLive. I am very upseet over this. Back in 2006, I never questioned it. Now that it has been years later and more echos and MRI studies have been done, I have more knowledge. The Post operative report says that the arae is only mildly dilated. I was wrong though it is NOT my ascending aorta, it is the root, which is only slightly and mildly enlarged. Should I worry? The measurement is about 3.9 right after the area that was replaced (which was up to 4.8) following the area that is 3.9 mm it states that it falls into a more "normal" range at 3.0mm. Thank you, EL for your comments or anyone else that may help me.
ElectLive
Well-known member
The fact that it is the root is much better news, as you can see from the chart, the baseline (normal diameter) root is a fair amount larger than the ascending aorta. Further, everyone's normal is a little different, so it's not so much the exact measurement by chart, but the relative difference from your individual normal that's most important. I'd certainly pay attention to the measurement as time goes on, but I think it may turn out to be just fine long-term. Anyone who has ever had an aneurysm obviously worries about getting another one, I do as well since I only had a minimal graft done, but there's actually a fairly low probability of a second aneurysm. One study I'd read indicated 2% odds at 10 years. By the way, are you on a beta blocker for blood pressure control? If you can tolerate it (I can, thankfully) long term, that's one method to possibly help prevent future aneurysm development.
