Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others

Posted by Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator @kanaazpereira, Feb 16, 2018

Welcome to the Aortic Aneurysms group on Mayo Clinic Connect.

An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of the aorta. The aorta begins deep in the heart as it emerges from the powerful left ventricle, gently arching over the heart, descending into the chest, and finally into the abdomen. Some aortic aneurysms can be harmless; others can lead to catastrophic problems. I invite you to follow this group and connect with others, share experiences, exchange useful information, and learn about aortic aneurysms.

Get started rby clicking the +FOLLOW icon on the group page here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/aneurysms/

There are some great conversations going on right now that I think you’ll like. Grab a cup of tea, or beverage of your choice, and lets chat. Why not start by introducing yourself?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aortic Aneurysms Support Group.

mikeneverwired | @mikeneverwired | Apr 5 3:58pm

In reply to @patti14 "@mikeneverwired Thanks so much. I'm now booked with a cardiogist. Is international travel not good for..." + (show)

@patti14 Well, international travel to sketchy parts of the world might be more stressful. I don't know about Kazakhstan but would suspect that heart issues would be the least of your worries.

I was travelling to HK, Japan and Singapore but if I had got sick, I'd have been lobbying to travel as quickly as possible to the US even from those relatively well developed regions. Just be careful, wherever you go!

perthmatt | @perthmatt | Apr 12 10:21pm

Hi all,
53 m with a 52mm aortic root aneurysm. What have peoples surgeons said is the time to intervene with surgery? I came back negative for Marfan's etc. My surgeon suggested the lasted research suggests surgery at 50mm.

moonboy | @moonboy | Apr 12 10:57pm

50mm. I survived a sudden dissection, BARELY, at age 50. Do not wait.

fastinghrt | @fastinghrt | Apr 13 3:04am

In reply to @mikeneverwired "@houston13 @patti14 I don't think I could say it better than @houston13 just did. When my..." + (show)

@mikeneverwired how long was it from 4.1 to surgery at 5.3?

houston13 | @houston13 | Apr 13 7:32am

In reply to @perthmatt "Hi all, 53 m with a 52mm aortic root aneurysm. What have peoples surgeons said is..." + (show)

@perthmatt when mine was found it was 52mm and I was 54, so almost exactly your case, my surgeon recommended I had it fixed ASAP, I was in very good physical shape and the surgery would be very low risk, I had the surgery 2 months after

mikeneverwired | @mikeneverwired | Apr 13 9:11am

In reply to @fastinghrt "@mikeneverwired how long was it from 4.1 to surgery at 5.3?" + (show)

@fastinghrt Well, that's the thing... I didn't know until I had an afib episode and was referred to a cardiologist. The subsequent echo diagnosed the aneurysm at 5.3cm and I was immediately referred to a surgeon. So, here I am 2 years later and all is good again!

In your case, get another echo to monitor growth of the aneurysm and from there you will know when it is time...

perthmatt | @perthmatt | Apr 14 1:39am

In reply to @houston13 "@perthmatt when mine was found it was 52mm and I was 54, so almost exactly your..." + (show)

@houston13 which surgery did you have? My surgeon is recommending PEARS. The process is already underway for making the external support which i feel good about, but he said he wanted to discuss my case with other surgeons before a final decision is made.

gcgc | @gcgc | Apr 14 7:53am

Hello nice to be here my name is Gabrielle. I have had this condition for a while now. Mine is at 4.1 now. For some reason my heart Dr. tells me it's not a problem now. I just had a CT scan in Feb. and it was the same as last year. It made me so nervous at first but now he says not to worry. I know it could kill me if it tears since its right at the heart. Anyway happy for every day. Hope you all have a good one.

ctflyr | @ctflyr | Apr 14 8:04am

In reply to @gcgc "Hello nice to be here my name is Gabrielle. I have had this condition for a..." + (show)

@gcgc Hi Gabrielle....in nearly all cases, surgery isn't considered until a thoracic aortic aneurysm reaches 5-5.5cm. You will be more closely monitored if growth is detected following regular scans. At your size of aneurysm, you may be checked less frequently, depending on your doctor. Proper blood pressure control is important, as are lifestyle modifications, if needed. It may be worthwhile to establish yourself as a patient with a cardiologist who has aneurysm expertise. Best wishes for "no growth" and good health!!

houston13 | @houston13 | Apr 14 8:50am

In reply to @perthmatt "@houston13 which surgery did you have? My surgeon is recommending PEARS. The process is already underway..." + (show)

@perthmatt Although mine was same size and I was your age, mine was not at the root, it was a little higher in the aorta so they had that section of the aorta replaced using a graft made of Dacron. Same type of surgery, different repair procedure. I just read about PEARS, new procedure but with high success rate, better than the traditional VSRR, it is amazing how 3D printing is being leveraged in the medical field.

The recovery should be about the same, depending on your general health, I was out of the hospital in 5 days and back to work in 3 weeks. Read about after OH surgery tips, small things will make a difference.

You seem to have the right team supporting you, all the best!!!

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