Ascending aortic aneurysm 4.8 and regurgitating bicuspid aortic valve

One thing to consider is that a regurgitating valve may continue to deteriorate and it is important not to let symptoms start as that may stress your heart and create damage. Valves can be replaced endovascularly (catheter) but they usually won’t do it if you have an aneurysm as the catheter may cause the aneurysm to rupture.

I had a 5.2cm aneurysm and a bicuspid valve, when I had the aneurysm repaired the surgeon told me if the valve was highly functional he would leave it and that’s what needed up happening, now that the aneurysm is repaired they can replace it without OH surgery.

Since then my valve has been progressively deteriorating, not to the point of symptoms and replacement but the estimate is that will happen in 3-4 years.

Hope that helps

Age is something to consider along with any other health issues. My aneurysm was discovered in 2012 at 4.5 cm and very slowly grew to 5.2 cm in 2025. Last January my surgeon recommended that I have surgery sooner rather than later. He said I would need surgery eventually and at my age, 72, the longer I waited the more difficult the surgery and recovery would be and the chance of complications from surgery would increase as I got older. I had surgery last April. My aneurysm and aortic valve were repaired. Everything went well with no significant complications. Recovery was slow but steady. I have been back to normal for several months now.

The decision as to whether or when to have surgery is a difficult one. The good news is it is not an emergency and you have time to prepare. Talk to your family, your employer, get a second opinion if you want. Best wishes with whatever you decide.

Very happy that you are doing well. God bless you and may you continue to have better health each and every day.

@wtamminen
Curious where you decided to have the surgery and why? My ascending aortic aneurism was already 5.1 cm when found incidentally and I am scheduled for repair in 3 weeks at Mayo in Phoenix with Dr. Kristina Sell-Dottin. I am 67 and there seemed no good reason to wait given very low risk of straightforward repair (no valve issues) but I still find myself questioning my decision. I feel absolutely no different than before it was found and still enjoy an active lifestyle (though with a nagging concern of possibly dissection/rupture zapping a lot of joy from it). I am very encouraged by reports like yours of full recovery within six months or less. Thank you for sharing.

To me, eliminating the existential threat of dissection or rupture and a few months of recovery from a surgery with quite low risk if done at a high volume aortic center, is better done sooner than later. Peace of mind....priceless! You are younger than I am (67) and so have even more time still ahead when you can enjoy a very active lifestyle. And the younger you are, the more easily you'll recover.

@cacamik
My surgery was at the Baylor Heart Hospital in Plano, TX (near Dallas). My surgeon was Dr. William Brinkman. It was a difficult decision for me at first. I had lived with the knowledge that I had an aneurysm for many years but there were no symptoms and it was not affecting my life. I had lived with it for so long I guess I had become complacent about the risk of dissection. I also knew it was major surgery with a long recovery and the possibility of complications. The first time I met with my surgeon I was not expecting him to recommend surgery, but he did. I was not prepared for that and I told him I was not ready and I would have to think about it. I did a lot of research after that and when I saw him again a couple of months later I was prepared for the discussion and had a long list of questions. He answered all my questions, but the one thing he said that convinced me to have the surgery was that my aneurysm was continuing to grow slowly and I would have to have surgery eventually, and at my age the longer I waited the more difficult the surgery and recovery would be. The recovery was difficult at times during the first few weeks, but it was not as bad as I had feared. Wishing you all the best with your surgery and recovery in 3 weeks or whenever you have it done. I know it is not easy but try not to let the anxiety and fear make the decisions for you.

@wtamminen
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. I am definitely doing the surgery, love my surgeon and have a lot of confidence in Mayo.