What is the correct cm in thoracic aorta ansersym to have surgery

I have a 5.1 cm ascending aortic aneurysm and have consulted with 5 vascular surgeons from highly reputable hospitals and they all seem to use the same guidelines for when to recommend surgery. Each one recommended surgery for me and I’m a very healthy 67 year old man. I’m reluctant to have surgery at this point and will monitor every 6 months. However based on the risk factors provided to me, surgery carries the lower risk compared to the watch and weight approach. That’s based on risk of dissection or rupture versus mortality from surgery. It’s a horrible choice either way and I’m not 100% settled on my choice just yet. Peace.

It is every individual’s decision but At 67 and healthy I would listen to your surgeons, age will start doing its thing to your body and the aneurysm will just get worse if it doesn’t dissect/rupture first. I had my Ascending AA repaired 5 years ago at 54 and 5.2 cm, I was in great health and shape, my surgeon gave me >99% chances of no complications, the stress of having a time bomb was way stronger than any fear about the surgery. When I was 14 years old my next door neighbor who lived alone collapsed on the side of his house, moaning in pain, I jumped the fence and struggled to get him to his bed while my mom called an ambulance. He passed 2 hrs later at the hospital from a ruptured Abdominal AA. That experience it’s ingrained in my mind, when my time came I did not doubt a minute, chose surgery as soon as it could be done.
I wish you all the best!!!

I agree, it is a horrible and difficult decision to make. I also struggled with it for 6 months. I was diagnosed with a 4.5 cm ascending aortic aneurysm 10 years ago. It has slowly grown to 5.2 cm. Last year my cardiologist and thoracic surgeon said I should have surgery, but I couldn’t make a decision. There is the real risk of a dissection. But, I feel fine and don’t have any symptoms and was trying to balance that against a very painful surgery recovery and months of disruption in my life, my wife’s life and my family’s life. Add to that the risk of complications from the surgery. Finally something my surgeon said convinced me. He said the aneurysm is not going to go away and will likely continue to grow which will increase my risk of a dissection. He also said the older I get the more difficult the surgery and recovery will be (I am 72 and in reasonably good health for my age). So I am having surgery on April 9th.

It is every individual’s decision but At 67 and healthy I would listen to your surgeons, age will start doing its thing to your body and the aneurysm will just get worse if it doesn’t dissect/rupture first. I had my Ascending AA repaired 5 years ago at 54 and 5.2 cm, I was in great health and shape, my surgeon gave me >99% chances of no complications, the stress of having a time bomb was way stronger than any fear about the surgery. When I was 14 years old my next door neighbor who lived alone collapsed on the side of his house, moaning in pain, I jumped the fence and struggled to get him to his bed while my mom called an ambulance. He passed 2 hrs later at the hospital from a ruptured Abdominal AA. That experience it’s ingrained in my mind, when my time came I did not doubt a minute, chose surgery as soon as it could be done.
I wish you all the best!!!

Hello have you had any complications since your surgery.

Thank you for such a thoughtful response; I am struggling with my decision but know as a scientist myself that surgery will set me free.

I have not, I started working out a few months after surgery, my limitation was more the fact that I was also recovering from a fractured leg ( they found my aneurysm while prepping me for leg surgery after an MTB accident). 5 years on, I’m in great health, workout 5-6 times a week with relatively high intensity , no complications whatsoever and no limitations. As I have some family propensity to aneurysms, I get checked every year by my cardiologist (also checking my aortic valve as it is bicuspid).

Houston13, after a ct scan, I found out I have a 4.2cm dilated ascending aorta. When you found out about yours did your Doc say you could continue to work out? Gym work, yoga, walking etc?
Thank you!

Houston13, after a ct scan, I found out I have a 4.2cm dilated ascending aorta. When you found out about yours did your Doc say you could continue to work out? Gym work, yoga, walking etc?
Thank you!