Should I panic?

Do you know where the aneurysm is located? That makes a big difference, ascending or descending (thoracic or abdominal in the case of descending). Abdominal aneurysms are the “easiest “ to treat since stents can be used, ascending are more complicated since open heart surgery is the only method. In any case, at 5.0cm he should be in the hands of a very experienced surgeon (different specialty depending on where it is) and a cardiologist who specializes in aortic diseases.

The surgeon would be able to weigh the risk of surgery against any other health issues he may have, but again at 5.0 cm he should be seeing one ASAP. Medicine has come a long way and the risks of surgery have come down, of course are not 0 and they depend on general physical health and comorbidities, so he should not think this is it for him. But if he is dealing with dementia convincing him may be another issue.

You are in the right forum, we all have gone through the process and can at least give you advice .

@houston13 Its abdominal . Thats all that the results list.

@blue717 that’s best case, EVAR may be a possibility for him and that’s a minimally invasive procedure, much better odds. Find a surgeon (vascular, but there are other specialists that perform this type of surgery also) that does this on a regular basis and try to get your husband evaluated.

All the best to you both

I suspect the most difficult issue you are dealing with is the dementia. My father had dementia and he developed bladder cancer. He stubbornly refused treatment. As a family we made the decision not to force the issue even though we did not want him to die. It was a very difficult decision.

There is a cure for the aneurysm but there is no cure for the dementia.

Send you hugs and love in dealing with this very painful situation.

just had a MRI and for the first time it reports a abodiminal aneurysm of 3.0 were none had existed on previous MRI of 6 months ago , which medical doctor is best to hand this

thanks

@wtamminen

what is the cure if there is one for abodiminal anuersym ?

Surgery and repair with a graft, or there are newer less invasive procedures as well. My father had an abdominal aneurysm repaired with surgery when he was 62 and he lived a full life after that until he developed dementia in his 80’s and died of cancer at 90.

@colonel0808 an abdominal aneurysm is still in the aorta so an aortic disease specialist (cardiologist who specializes in the subject, not all of them do) should be following you. It is small still but the surgery options are simpler and less invasive. Read about EVAR procedures, repairing aneurysms with stents.

thank you

best,
colonel 0808

Wow! He is absolutely doing everything he shouldn't be doing. ESPECIALLY the smoking. Who takes up smoking at 76 years old? I suppose if he doesn't seem to understand that the things he is doing are detrimental to his health, then there is nothing you can say.