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thoracic aortic aneurysm larger than 7
Hi All - my mom has a thoracic aortic aneurysm larger than 7cm. She is 90 years old. We just saw a specialist and he said that it was her choice whether or not to do surgery. He was willing to do it.
Two doctors have now told her it is a good way to die(you have to laugh or else you cry).
She is leaning toward not doing the surgery. Has anyone been in a similar situation (her age or size of aneurysm)? It's very concerning.
Thanks!
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Your Mom is in a tough place. As a 77 year old with pulmonary fibrosis and a 5.5 cm ascending aortic aneurysm, my focus is on QUALITY of life rather quantity of life. Open heart surgery is a big deal and will require much strength to recover. I am thinking live life to its fullest now and count your memories and blessings, get your ducks in a row and leave nothing unsaid.
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5 ReactionsAmazing ! You had some great surgeons.
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1 ReactionWhat is her general health? Is she otherwise healthy with no cancer; no immune system problems; optimal blood work (CBC, CMP, CRP, etc.)? What is her pulmonary function? Lipid and hepatic panel results? Kidney function?
If all those and other factors are good and she is mobile and independent, I would have the surgery. But that would be my choice.
I'm reading all of your story and input with your experiences and I'm so glad that I found this group as my mom hapens to have accidently discovered has around 7cm thoracic aortic aneurysm that she does not even really know about besides what the first doctor she saw told her she has enlarged aorta after doing CT because of a lesion on left lung main bronch which hapened to be a tumor with still unclear histology.
My mom lives in Bulgaria and I live with my family in LA. She is going to heve on 07/02/25 new CT with contrast so the doctors will be able to get clear picture of her situation and than let me know about care plan for her.
I used to be an OR nurse some 20-25 years ago back home and understand that I'll need to go there and be with her in the time after surgery and in her first weeks of recovery.
For me reading all of your input is so helpful and vital. Thank you so much for any advise and information.
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6 ReactionsHi @vesi73, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I am just seeing your first comment and am so glad you are here.
It sounds like your mom is set up to receive excellent care with by her side. How is your mom doing? Have you made the trip back home yet?
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2 ReactionsHi Janell, thank you for reaching out and checking on me and my mom. I’m right now in a hospital in Bulgaria as her caregiver. Unfortunately things are going differently than what we expected. It took us time till she got the surgery of the thoracic artery aneurysm because we had to consult with an oncologist for the lung adenocarcinoma radiation therapy recommendation. They refused doing radiation because the aneurysm and the cancer were next to each other and is very dangerous to start with radiation so we went to consult with a vascular surgeon , who sent us to cardiac surgery for consultation. Finally she had the surgery but she got a hemorrhagic stroke at the time of the surgery or right after it because wasn’t recovering as expected. They did CT to discover the new issue. After 3-4 days she woke up, after few days extubated but with right body weakness. At the time she was in ICU her right foot became painful, swelling with discoloration of the toes. Now even giving her medication for improving circulation of the foot the toes are turning dark purple and reddish-blue on the rest of the foot. I’m very worried about how that can end up because honestly I don’t see improvement but worsening. Another thing that worries me a lot is that soon I have to go back to US because my leave of absence from work will exhaust soon and l have to leave her in the unknown what is next. Sorry I stretched out so much but this is the situation we are in.
Best regards,
Veselka
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2 ReactionsI am so, so sorry @vesi73. You are in a difficult position, no doubt drawing from your experience of being an OR nurse.
Has your mom started responding to treatment, how is she doing? What is your timeline for needing to leave her in other’s hands?
Hello @vesi73, I moved your discussion into another discussion titled:
"thoracic aortic aneurysm larger than 7"
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/thoracic-aortic-aneurysm-larger-than-7/
@lisareader also shared their experience with their mother being diagnosed with a large TAA at a later age. @seasidesandy1 and @oldwal shared their experiences with being diagnosed and weighing age and surgery risks in this discussion as well.
@vesi73, how are you and your mom taking this news and coping with it? Does your mom have support around her where she lives to help with getting to and from medical appointments?
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1 ReactionI guess it depends on what the definition of quick is and how the dissection and rupture proceeds. Drowning is probably quicker in many cases.
Yes. Mine is 5.9. I am 85 years old. My specialty surgeon told me that, at my age, surgery isn’t worth it. The outcome surely would be major cognitive and physical decline.