Early surgery: Can I get aortic aneurysm repair before it's 5.0?

The specialist at a university hospital out of state who has done many of these operations and is following my case has told me the surgery is done once it leaches 5.0 cm He now measures my scan at 4.5 cm and I am on annual scans. I am also followed by a local cardiologist and he and local radiologist measure my scan at 4.2. So measurements are not exact and vary depend on who is measuring. They both told me that the chances of fatality when under 5.0 cm is extremely low where surgery can have a chance of a few percent. So they do not operate under 5 cm because of that unless they measure a rapid rate of increase. Very frustrating since I now have this for 3 1/2 years and losing on 71 years old.

My Ascending aortic aneurysm is 4.2 cm. From the research I've done, ascending aortic aneurysms are repaired through traditional open surgery. EVAR has been used in rare emergencies. It was developed for descending aortic aneurysms. The anatomy and blood pressures of the ascending and descending aorta differ.
I was just diagnosed in September when my aneurysm displaced the large vessels in my chest and I could feel my right brachiocephalic artery at the base of my neck.
No one wants this diagnosis, but I'm grateful to have it. We were all just walking around with these things growing in our chests. Of course we have to make changes to our lives, but I think I'd rather have this diagnosis, than a diagnosis of cancer. It's a waiting game. You see your cardiologist. You have your scans. You watch and you wait. There are advancements in medical technology all the time. I'm hoping that by the time most of us are ready for surgery, there will be an easier method. Descending aortic aneurysms used to be repaired with open surgery.
Since my diagnosis is fairly new, I don't know how long it took to get to this size or how fast it's growing. My next cardiology appointment is April. I hope that it is slow growing and that I never have to have surgery.
Prayers and well wishes to all.

Thank you
Yes My appt is Feb and I am praying to that it doesn't grow until there is non-invasive surgery. Prayers and goddess wishes to you

Hug in return

In MY opinion (and I'm not even close to being a doctor in the medical profession) is do it sooner than later. I'm in reasonably good physical condition and had it done earlier this year at 80 and I'm here to tell you I have NOT "fully recovered" but doing OK. My 7 years older brother has the same thing and been told (by the Mayo Clinic) that he's too old to risk it.

Thanks a million for the suggestion!! No, I haven't tried that but yes, they DO have one and yes, I WILL try it next time in!

I don't understand why I have to wait until 5cm to have surgery. Why not now while it's little,3.7; Does anyone understand that?

They wait more or less until the odds of a bad outcome from surgery are less than the odds of a bad outcome without surgery. This should be reassuring.

I am at 4.5 cm. My local cardiologist told me the change of the aorta failing resulting in death at this stage is extremely low, way below 1% (assuming I follow precautions like not lifting heavy stuff, straining, grunting etc). According to him surgery, depending on the hospital, has a 3% fatality rate some have said 5%. Also if it is kept stable and does not grow people can live with it long enough and finally go from something unrelated and never have to have surgery. The cardiovascular specialist/surgeon that follows my case (out of state) has told me the same.

I was diagnosed in September at 4.2 cm. My initial reaction was the same as your's, because it can be frightening to hear the word aneurysm. I thought why can't I just have it now? As I think about and research it, my thinking has changed. It got to 4.2 cm without me knowing it was there. I was lifting heavy things and taking Ibuprofen and nothing bad happened. Now I have a diagnosis and I know things that I need to change to try to prevent bad things from happening. I see my cardiologist, have my scans and watch it. Most of the time they grow slowly. That's what I'm hoping for. I've commented in other conversations, that if I have to have surgery, I hope it's in the future and medical advancements has made it much easier. I wish you well!!!