I dissected completely at age 50 in 2015. I survived because I was in the middle of downtown San Diego when it happened, an ambulance arrived within 2 minutes, and I was only 5 miles away from the best cardiac emergency care center in California. I would never consider flying with your condition if my doctor was recommending that I have surgery. But, that's your decision. An aneurysm is like the bulge in the side of your left front tire. Do you want to go on a long trip into the desert on that tire and take the risk that it will blow out? Or would you rather get it fixed and travel safely? There is no one answer for everyone. It's about what level of risk you would be comfortable with.

But, I can tell you from having suffered a sudden and complete aortic dissection, after a long flight from Minneapolis to San Diego, then a day in 113F in the Anza Borrego Desert, followed by two long days teaching a seminar, that I would not risk my life again like that. If I had been in the air at the time I dissected, we wouldn't be having this exchange. That said, I just got back last night from a 3 hour plane ride back from DC and it went great. I also have a 13" long Dacron Aortic Graft inside of me that keeps alive. I am so very thankful for every day I have. Peace.