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Aortic Arch Repair?

Posted by bitsygirl @bitsygirl, Sep 27 1:00pm

I have an approximately 4.6 CM ascending aortic aneurysm. Today I was looking at some 3D reconstructions and I realized that the arch looks pretty bloated as well. The tubular part of the ascending aorta looks pretty short.

I had a CTA focused on coronary blockages that also reported dimensions of the ascending aorta a root and produced the 3d reconstruction. It didn't mention anything about the arch, but maybe it wouldn't since it wasn't focused on that?

Anyone have any experience with this?

It's raised my stress level suddenly. I imagine that repairing the arch would complicate things substantially.

Further and further down the rabbit hole of this diagnosis.

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houston13 | @houston13 | Sep 27 2:28pm

I am not sure if it's you that think there is something wrong with the arch or it is the Dr that has told you that. In my experience nothing beats a good and experienced cardiovascular/thoracic surgeon and a Cardiologist that focuses on aneurysms, they would tell you exactly the extent of the issue and the repair process with all the risks involved. If you are not being supported by an experienced team, find yourself one, I know we all have to advocate for ourselves but there are limits (big limits at least in my case maybe you do have a medical background) to what we can infer from tests and imaging, it is already stressing to know that you have an aneurysm. I have posetd my story several times but just in case, I had my surgery about 4 1/2 years ago, I was very stressed since when they found my aneurysm it was 5.2 cm but I couldn't have surgery immediately since I had to recover from leg fracture surgery (how they found it). My surgeon and my cardiologist were (are) incredible, experienced, knowledgeable, caring, they answered all my questions, gave me all the details I needed, they showed me samples of the graft that needed to be placed and how it would work, just amazing. I hope everything goes well!!!!!

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1 reply
bitsygirl | @bitsygirl | Sep 27 4:00pm
In reply to @houston13 "I am not sure if it's you that think there is something wrong with the arch..." + (show)
@houston13

I am not sure if it's you that think there is something wrong with the arch or it is the Dr that has told you that. In my experience nothing beats a good and experienced cardiovascular/thoracic surgeon and a Cardiologist that focuses on aneurysms, they would tell you exactly the extent of the issue and the repair process with all the risks involved. If you are not being supported by an experienced team, find yourself one, I know we all have to advocate for ourselves but there are limits (big limits at least in my case maybe you do have a medical background) to what we can infer from tests and imaging, it is already stressing to know that you have an aneurysm. I have posetd my story several times but just in case, I had my surgery about 4 1/2 years ago, I was very stressed since when they found my aneurysm it was 5.2 cm but I couldn't have surgery immediately since I had to recover from leg fracture surgery (how they found it). My surgeon and my cardiologist were (are) incredible, experienced, knowledgeable, caring, they answered all my questions, gave me all the details I needed, they showed me samples of the graft that needed to be placed and how it would work, just amazing. I hope everything goes well!!!!!

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@houston13, thanks for your reply.

It' s just me. I can see that the area under the arch is much larger than the descending aorta. There's almost kind of a crease between the arch segment and the descending aorta due to the narrowing.

I trust the person that's monitoring it. I'll see him again in a few weeks. I just looked at the image and it got me thinking. I'm less stressed if I understand what's going on and have some idea of what is "usual". Unnecessary perhaps, but makes me feel better.

Thanks again!

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bitsygirl | @bitsygirl | Sep 27 7:13pm

Think I answered my own question. The process appears to be replacement of the hemiarch as described here: https://med.emory.edu/education/vme/AorticCenterPatientEd/procedures/ascendingaorta.html.

Doesn’t look as terrifying as I thought (well, no more than replacement of the ascending aorta might be). Appears also not to be uncommon.

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