How often do you get imaging?

Is your Dr a cardiologist? Is he/she an aortic disease and BAV specialist?

I’m asking because I have seen in this forum big variations on frequency and type of monitoring. So you are not alone in your question.

I also have a BAV and had a 5.2 aneurysm that was repaired 5 years ago. My BAV was left during surgery because it was highly functional and the surgeon told me my still functional natural BAV would be better than any artificial valve. But I know that it will have to be replaced at some point.

My cardiologist, who specializes on the above, sees me every year after an echo he orders. He monitors the evolution of my valve and that is the main focus for him, if I still had the aneurysm I’m sure he would also order at least yearly imaging for it. He does order a full aortic MRI every 4-5 years to ensure no other aneurysms are appearing, so that tells you how certain Drs are more focused on monitoring than others.

I hope that helps as reference

All the best to you

I have an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Discovered in early February. 5.2cm
My vascular surgeon says it should be repaired at 5.5cm.
I’ve read in several places that some are waiting until 6.0 cm

What’s the consensus?
Healthy, kinda of skinny, eat clean, sleep deep and walk 2-3 miles each day. I’m 70.

Is your cardiologist a TAA specialist? I have my doubts because I think 2 years is too far apart. I think an echo yearly would be the minimum.

He is a cardiologist and says he has treated patients with BAV and patients with aneurysms. I had a cardiologist that I could not communicate with for the 1st few months. My uncle had stents put in for blockage and recommended his cardiologist. The new one is better than the first (as far as communication) I just thought his recommendation for no more imaging for 2 years seemed a little strange (although he said it would be an MRI because of the radiation from too many CTA's, and I agreed that that seemed like a good idea). Everything I'm hearing keeps pointing me in the direction of finding a congenital cardiologist, I recently found the AHA directory for congenital cardiologist. Is there a national register or a way to find aorta specialists?

Is there a registry for TAA specialists? Also, I've had echos with very different results 1st one in Aug said 4.2 six months later an echo said 4.6. Both CTA's (six months apart said 4.3) I thought it was supposed to be CTA or MRI to measure aneurysm

I’m not sure there is a registry, their focus normally is related to their research interests. In my case, mine was referred by the surgeon and he couldn’t have been more spot on. I would look through the cardiologist bios in whichever medical center you go to and look for clinical interests, for example the screenshot attached shows what my cardiologist’s bio says. The man is an aneurysm/BAV nerd and also a geneticist

I am not aware of a directory. The best way is to look at centers that deal with several hundred of these a year. The cardiologists in Tallahassee were clueless and I got referral for a second opinion to go to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.

I get scanned again in early August.
6 months from discovery.
Analyze then.
Same?
Bigger?
Smaller?
That’s the current plan from my vascular surgeon, me and my wife.

I will only relate to my case. My AAA was discovered 2011 and has been followed by my local cardiologist with mainly yearly ECHOS. However the reading have been all over the place to the point that the last one was read as 4.9 . The cardiovascular local surgeon said we needed a CT and I should probably be contemplating surgery. My anxiety reached 100%.The reason they follow with ECHO is because of the less exposure to radiation by CT scan, although is the only reliable reading. Due to my last ECHO findings I came back to Mayo and had a CT scan with contrast. Much to everyones surprise it read 4.5 cm unchanged from 2011. Needless to say my surprise and delight to hear I don't need to worry about surgery. So you see how erratic the ECHO measurements can be compared to the CT. I am at peace again

Do remember that the big medical centers for aneurysm surgery are for planned, scheduled surgeries. One needs to look to your local cardiovascular surgeons in case of an emergency rupture. There will be no time for referral. So make yourself familiar with your local cardiovascular surgeon when your measure is close to surgery time