You’re far better off getting it fixed if you know about it now. My aorta dissected in 2015 and I wound up having two emergency open heart surgeries to fix it. Type A dissection of the ascending aorta. UCSD La Jolla CA. It was an absolute unmitigated disaster personally, medically and professionally. I was very lucky to have survived, but I spent three weeks in the hospital and two weeks of that was in a coma. You’re much better off dealing with it when it can be scheduled and when you know it’s there. It gives the doctor a chance to go into it knowing that they have all of the necessary surgical staff on hand, and to have absolutely everything they need for a great outcome including blood, plasma, platelets, and packed red blood cells. It’s about as complicated surgery as you are ever going to see, so the best way to prepare for it is to do it electively rather than by emergency. Follow your thoracic surgeon’s advice. They want good outcomes, and they know what makes for one. Mayo is absolutely top-notch in this area of heart care. You’ll be fine and you’re doing all the right things by asking all the right questions. I’m still here 9 years later. Make sure to go back and say thank you to all your nurses and doctors after you get better. It makes them feel really good to know that they made a difference in your life by making a difference in theirs.

I live in Houston, so found the best surgery team in the Texas Medical Center, Dr Anthony Estrera was my surgeon, an extraordinary Dr in all aspects, incredible surgeon and the nicest person