Tying to decide when I should have surgery?

Is this an ascending or abdominal aneurysm? It makes a difference, if it is ascending that means open heart surgery and you want to have that done when your body is at its best, as you age inevitably the risks will be higher. If it is abdominal there are more options that are less critical than an ascending, still surgery so being in good shape matters. There’s I’m sure a good reason why the cardiologist is recommending surgery now.

You may also want to consult with a surgeon and get another opinion.

All the best to you!!

When should you get surgery? Today while you are still alive if you wait and something bad happens you might not have an option. Also your stronger in good health today if you wait that might not be the case.

@davej
It’s a question that goes through my mind continuously. I am 75 & was diagnosed w/ a 4.4 thoracic ascending aneurysm in January. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Your cardiologist won't be the one doing it nor be in the operating room. This is a discussion to have with a cardiovascular surgeon that does this things frequently. Where is it located? Is it ascending and involve the aortic root? Do you have any other things that need repaired? If you had to have a bypass (CABG) for example, a good surgeon can do them at the same time.

@lulu797......there are certainly other factors guiding the surgery decision. Specifically, other health issues or co-morbidites that need to be considered, and their possible issues post-surgery. Stunningly, a simple query to Ai showed a 3-fold higher risk for death post surgery or post-surgical complications than for an actual dissection of an ascending aortic aneurysm in a 71 y.o. male. Something to consider.

@ctflyr

Take A.I. queries with a grain of salt. That 3 fold number is flat wrong unless you are talking about the local community hospital that does one of these every 3 years. Those numbers definitely don't hold up at Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic etc. Have a dissection or rupture, and surviving at the local ER is about a 80% odds of making it there and and 5% if you do get there. Plus, they may not know what they are dealing with until its too late. The assumption with John Ritter and Lindsey Graham was a cardiac arrest.

First, you need more than just a "general" cardiologist. Second, if it comes to surgery, you need a surgeon experienced in this.

@rlhix...definitely agree that an experienced surgical team at a high-volume aortic center is best, but studies posted on line point to post-surgical complications, and surgical risk...stroke, death.... involved during and after open heart surgery. It's no "walk in the park" for what many have said is a prolonged surgery and lengthy recovery.

@ctflyr , I am with @rlhix, AI gathers data based on averages and generalities, doesn't know the fundamentals of the specific patient, everyone is different. It is good to get informed about the disease, etc but I would not make a surgery or not decision based on that. Nothing beats being in front of a cardiothoracic surgeon (and in my case I also consulted a cardiologist who is a recognized aortic disease specialist) who has done thousands of these in a major medical center and has all your details. My surgeon when I first saw him told me, my aneurysm was large for my body size and I should have it repaired sooner than later, he told me based on my specific physical conditions chance of going through surgery without issues was >99%, I had my surgery 2 months later and as he said no issues, in my case 5 days in the hospital, back to work in 3 weeks. Not everyone is in the same shape, age, etc but I trust a recognized specialist that knows my case well over AI.

@houston13....you may have missed this in my last post...."studies posted on line point to post-surgical complications, and surgical risk...stroke, death.... involved during and after open heart surgery." That, and I don't believe anyone should have Ai make surgical decisions for them. One should, however, gather as much information as possible from a variety of sources, to make informed decisions whenever possible.

@ctflyr

Not having a competent surgeon line up isn't a plan. Ending up in the local ER with them treating you for cardiac arrest has almost no survival rate. I survived 14.5 hours of open heart surgery 22 months ago at 60 years old. I wouldn't want to go through that at 70+. However, I still have a aneurysm on my ascending aorta between the graft and aortic arch. It has been stable for the past year at 4.6cm. My tricuspid has increased to a moderate leak and the mitral valve went from trivial to mild. I have been through this and am also on the watch and wait thing, again. That said, however you proceed, good luck to you.