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Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others
Aortic Aneurysms | Last Active: 7 hours ago | Replies (543)Comment receiving replies
I am a 77 yr old female, just diagnosed with a 4.3 TAA, ascending. I am in good health, controlled BP with meds, Good cholesterol, triglycerides, very active with
no other health concerns, no previous surgeries.
My question is after my cardiologist consultation, he said because I have a 3 leaflet valve vs. A 2 leaflet (bicuspid) valve my surgical threshold was 6.0, not the most common 5.0 cm.
He was implying I had much more room for growth & would probably die with this ever reaching that point of surgery. I had not heard of this 6.0 cm measurement as common before, after researching intently.
Has anyone with similar circumstances received this prediction? My inclination was he is trying to settle my anxiety.
Thank you for any input concerning 6cm VS 5cm.
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I have a three leaflet valve as well. I never even heart of such a thing until about two weeks ago. I also have a Bovine heart. I didn't know I was in such strange shape. (I'm 78) My blood pressure was well-controlled with meds. and my cholesterol has always been good, but ever since getting this diagnosis my b.p. has spiked. I have some family issues that are ongoing so my stress level is on the high side, though I don't really feel anything physically. I didn't know about the 6.0 threshold for 3-leaflet valve. To be quite honest, I'm getting more information from this group than from my doctor. I like him a lot but I'm learning there's a lot more to this than I've been told. When I asked him if I'd be okay, he said, "Probably." It takes some getting used to having a serious diagnosis that can only ultimately be resolved with open-heart surgery.