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How do you address the uncertainty?
Hello, so glad to find this group! I am a 45yo male, just diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm at 45mm. I also have a bicuspod aortic valve. I am struggling with how to cope with the uncertainty of this diagnosis. I have always been a planner and I have lots of irons in the fire usually. I guess I'm wondering how you decided what to start or continue doing and what to stop or put off? I get a very frustrating response of wait and see from my doctors about when to expect surgery or a rupture. I don't know how to plan my future if I have a big surgery and recovery coming at basically any time?
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I had a Type A aortic dissection in 2015, and I’ve spent nearly a decade learning everything I can about aortic disease. While I’m not a doctor, I can share what I’ve learned from my own experience and from others in the community.
A 5.1 cm root aneurysm and a 4.4 cm ascending aneurysm are significant, but whether surgery is recommended depends on multiple factors—your body size, rate of growth, connective tissue status, and overall risk profile. Many surgeons consider intervention at 5.0 cm for certain patients, especially if you are otherwise in good health and proactive about surgery. Since you’re 84 and feeling well, a high-volume aortic surgeon would need to weigh the risks and benefits carefully. Some centers operate at lower thresholds if symptoms are present, and shortness of breath and dizziness could be related if the aneurysm is affecting blood flow or valve function.
Have you had an evaluation with a specialized aortic surgeon? This isn’t something a general cardiologist or even a standard heart surgeon should assess alone. Aortic surgery is highly specialized, and you’ll want a surgeon with extensive experience in root and ascending aneurysm repair.
If surgery is an option, it’s good that you aren’t afraid of the risks, but a detailed conversation with an expert can help clarify your best path forward. If you haven’t already, consider getting a second opinion at a major aortic center. Peace.
My husband had the surgery 5 years ago. He was 79.
It took a lot out of him. I’m just happy to have him here with us. He slowed down a lot.
But he was at the point that he would have had to quit driving to keep us all safe.