Connect
Aneurysm grew 4.1 to 4.7 in one year - which questions should I ask?
I am 75 female 5'6" and 157 lbs. Very active and try to stay busy every day. My aneurysm grew from 4.1 to 4.7 in one year. My cardiologist just referred me to a surgeon. I know very little about growth rate and questions I should ask. My mother had two aneurysms and 3 brothers died suddenly at 42, 50, 65 and two of dads brothers died of ruptured aneurysms. Since I live 52 miles from the nearest the hospital how big of a rush should I be in.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aortic Aneurysms Support Group.
Connect
@rlhix I’m actually seeing Dr. Phillips next week. I saw Dr. Bravo previously but the office changed my appt to Dr. Phillips. Do you like her? Thoughts?
@dbaxter70
Yes, I like her. She is the one that found 4 things I didn't realize and they guy in Tallahassee missed. She works with a team when she finds something. Dr. Michael Gharacholou was the interventional cardiologist that worked with her on a catheter angiogram for possible intervention on a complex coronary fistula, but it was far more complex plus they found a completely occluded mid-LAD so she set me up with the Chair of Cardiovascular surgery, Dr. Jack Haney. Just be sure to explain your symptoms and family history to her. She will likely do a CT with IV contrast first thing. If things need to be escalated, they will be.
@rlhix wow- thanks. I feel better about going to see her!
@scottbliz I would be in a big rush to ensure that the 4.7 measurement is accurate. These are not the easiest thing to measure, and if you have someone doing it who doesn't do it often you can get operator error as well. If the measurements are accurate- going from 4.1 to 4.7 in one year coupled with your family history would suggest that you need surgery right now. You need to be seen at a hospital that has a high volume of aortic aneurysm surgeries. I'd be very surprised if there are any hospitals in west Texas that fit that criteria.
I'm guessing Houston or Dallas might have good options. I am working with both Cleveland Clinic and Mayo. If the time comes for me to need surgery, (likely) I want to compare the surgical experience of the specific surgeons each place is recommending- and see if they have the same recommendation on how to fix it. From what I know, we have a very low risk if we have elective surgery at a high volume hospital with an experienced surgeon to fix this- but face extremely high mortality risk if it becomes an emergency repair issue.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@chrisn61 Thankyou I will be making decisions next week
@chrisn61 Exactly: On average, the aneurysm should grow about 1/3 cm per year. With double
that rate it seems like a second opinion would be in order.
@dew88 Thank you I'm going on the 4th
@scottbliz
Where can I go and how fast can you get help for me. My brother and his wife sought out the best place to get a lung transplant and lived there and waited to get on the transplant list. She had a fatal lung disease. I don't intend to panic, but I intend to help you prioritize. Do everything possible to get treatment as quickly as possible with the best doctors. If you can imagine a balloon that is stretching it may help but it also has layers that can separate. I just learned that women have smaller aortas than men and the comparison needs to be different. I have a stable aneurysm and I am a small woman.
Rose
@dietgourmet Thank you and I will
@dew88
That’s what I’m wondering.. We’re these both CT’s with contrast? We’re they read by the same radiologist? I thought mine had grown 4 mm in 6 months and it was a gated CT.
Turns out it was measured wrong and lucky me, it was still 4.5 cm!