thoracic aortic aneurysm larger than 7

I have a hard time with 2 doctors saying its a good way to day. That said, her age is a concern for open heart surgery. Unless its the descending aortic artery that is what we be required to do surgery. An EVAR procedure 'may' be feasible on a descending aortic aneurysm. Does she have a cardiologist and/or surgeon that specializes in aortic aneurysms?

I am an 81 yr old woman with a 5.9cm descending AAA. Two surgeries have been recommended, one very dangerous with no statistical survival outcomes. Whether to have surgery or not, may have the same outcome that we all have to face in life.

My children are allowing me to make my own decisions regarding surgery. I am still independent, but have autoimmune issues and a lowered immune system due to having Covid twice. I don’t feel that I would be able to survive a lengthy surgery or recuperation in rehab where one could contract illnesses.

I am grateful for every day surrounded by family and friends who love me. I live an active life and it would be a challenge for me to lose this. I am in the hands of the creator….

God Bless…

I have a TAA of 4.2 and am 79. I've pondered the advisability of surgery if I should reach 5.0, probably when I'm in my 80s. I don't know what I'd do, but if I were 90, I'm pretty sure I'd not have the surgery and let nature take its course. A long, painful recovery at that advanced age doesn't seem like it would be worth it since the future, if you survive the operation, isn't likely to be very happy. What does your mother want to do? It's really up to her. Don't feel guilty if you let go when she's ready. Let her know it's okay for her to do what she wants, and if that's to die with dignity, then honor her wishes. I watched a good friend suffer for several years before dying because his wife kept insisting on more treatments and operations. His end was miserable and now my friend feels guilty that she put him through that. Do the kind thing.

Aged 90 and a measured 5.5 aneurysm when last measured a couple of years ago I am in a similar situation. Yes, I have been told it is not a bad way to die and I think that is right. I also have a large belly hernia which would require a lengthy surgery to repair . I am prepared to live it out as best I can and be thankful for the wonderful life I have had.

Yes, we just met with a specialist at Eisenhower in Rancho Mirage. He seemed great, and said he would love to do the surgery because it was an interesting case. He said that he had done a ton of aortic aneurysm surgeries. However, when she asked him his advice for what she should do he told her that she should probably not do the surgery since she was 90 and the aneurysm really wasn't hindering her quality of life.

I would say how good is Mom’s health overall ? Is your Mom active ,very active . I’m sure the specialist has taken all that into consideration. There are some videos assisted surgeries where surgeons go in with small incisions on your right side rather than opening the chest wall, again a specialized surgeon I had VATS ,video assisted thoracic surgery for a cyst close to the heart . It’s going to be a considerable recovery for for your Mom with all the risks of heart surgery . Just my thoughts Best wishes

I think people that have had a rupture or dissection would disagree with doctors saying it is a good way to die.

But it would be quick, no? I'm sure it's very painful but terminal cancer can't be much fun either. I'd like to hear from those who've had dissections and lived to tell the tale. If they'd been 90 when they occurred, what would they have chosen, knowing what they know now?

The doctor told my mom that it would be a quick moment of sharp pain and then it's over. It does sound a lot better than a prolonged illness.

I can and cannot agree with some of these comments.
At 60 my aneurysm was 6.5+ and it caused a complete valve-to-legs rip along my entire aorta. I was in agony for hours until it could be repaired.
Not quick at all.
Should we not have made it so quickly to a hospital then we wouldn't be talking right now.
That simple.
It is not always the dissection or aneurysm that k*lls, but the distance to a life-saving team.
We called the ambulance three times and then drove to the ED.
Not fun lying in the back of the car wondering if my wife could handle trying to revive me as I clutched at my chest on the way to leaving this world.
I have heard first hand from people that had it worse. Lying on the OR table with a dissection when their aneurysm burst into their chest cavity. And then there is much worse again. These are the onepercenters. Not called that because of their chance of survival. But we onepercenters call them that because to us they had a one percent of one percent chance. These people are my heroes.
So I was in the ED going through a billion tests and all the time wondering if I was going to make it. And looking at my wife wondering if she was prepared for it. No. She wasn't. It was tremendous force of will for her not to fall apart as I lay there. I couldn’t look at her and if she looked at me then my next few minutes would be a living nightmare. Everything from movies and TV was about to happen, but in the worst possible way. In that moment I had no God or angles or family or friends. I only had her.
I have a mechanical valve because I was not coming back in 10+ years to operate on the organic valve. The dissection ripped down the carotid artery destroying the valve. The root was torn apart, the aorta was wrecked, the aneurysm the size of a tennis ball.
No way I was coming back to do any of this again.
Or so I thought.
In that moment I made a decision not to repeat it.
But I still have the descending dissection. And again I am amazed I am still here. Because I now learn that the dissection has fenestration and blood can pass through the wall of the dissected aorta somewhere in my abdomen. This (not forgetting brilliant surgeons) kind of saved me from stroke.
Yeah my heart was stopped, and my lungs were on machines, and i had no physical reason to keep going. So maybe I got a bit of stroke or perfusion syndrome, but i woke up from a coma five days later. Completely wrecked. I could not talk or walk or move. I could not lift my arm to touch my face.
Would I do it again?
A month later I said no.
A year later now and I say sure, let's go. Can I suggest anyone do what I did? No. Not even an identical twin that lived the same life as I did. Could I advise anyone to repeat my process ? What gives me the right to tell someone how to live their life?
Doctors trained the whole career to do it could probably. And with a good outcome.
But know this...
My surgeon told me that my chance of not surviving was 30%, my chance of major organ loss was 30%, my chance of stroke 30%. And I was someone who had no, none at all, comorbidities or complications. I was as good as I could have been but that wasn't enough.