Renal - Infrarenal Aortic Aneurysm

Posted by trevilo @trevilo, Aug 1, 2018

I am having s1 and l 4&5 issues, I got an MRI and X-ray done to check it out, but the dr saw a 1.4-centimeter aneurysm on the aortic vein going to my left kidney(Renal an aortic aneurysm). So I just went back to the vascular dr after 6 weeks, did a sonogram and said there was no change, so he doesn’t want to see me for another 6 months, and I was cleared to have surgery on my back if I needed it. But now I'm freaking out about it, because I have passed two kidney stones. I'm supposed to go back to work ( school bus driver) in three weeks. I'm hurting because of my back and the stones, but mostly I'm stressed out because of an aneurysm and going back to work. I'm not dealing well with any of this I just want to take the meds and stay in bed and never get up, I just don't know what to do, I would appreciate any suggestions.

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mimieleven | @mimieleven | Jan 24, 2020

In reply to @plj44 "I want to know if anyone else is dealing with these two life threatening conditions at..." + (show)

My husband has just been to the Cleveland Clinic because of the location of his AAA. He had open heart surgery 4 years ago and has CAD. His ejection fraction is 40-45. At the Cleveland Clinic, a research trial has been going on for about 10 years treating AAA that involves placing a stent that is made to the specific patient's anatomy so that there are openings at the exact point of the kidney, gastric and all arteries involved in that area. After the stent is placed in the aorta, via the femoral artery, then another guide places stents in each of the arteries mentioned above. It takes 3 months for the device (stent or graft) to be made in Australia, two wks to ship to Cleveland Clinic and two wks to schedule the surgery. CC and a site in California are the only two places in the US that do this. However, it is being done routinely in Europe, Canada and Australia. My husband is 83 and may be too high a risk to have the procedure done as he has COPD and some other health issues. His aneurysm is long and measures 7 cm in diameter. The doctor explained to us that the surgery takes 6 hrs, at least 3 days in ICU and several days on the hospital unit until he is strong enough to return to Cincinnati to a rehabilitation facility for however long it takes for nearly complete recovery. There is a 2-7% risk of paralysis from the waist down, heart attack, and stroke, plus others. If he wants to take the risks, he is eligible for the procedure. As far as coping, he is taking it a day at a time but I think he is pretty depressed and fearful of a rupture of the aneurysm. We do pray continually for guidance and peace to accept what will be.

PLJ44 | @plj44 | Jan 24, 2020

In reply to @mlan68 "My 68 year old very energetic "on the go" mom got sick in Feb. of this..." + (show)

@mlan68

My 68 year old very energetic "on the go" mom got sick in Feb. of this year with a cold that progressed to the point of an ER visit at the end of March. A CT scan revealed an abdominal aortic aneurysm and the endovascular repair was done at the end of April. As soon as she exited the recovery room she became sick vomiting and diarrhea and after being released made 6 more trips back to the hospital where some led to admittance for more than 7 days.Between the end of April post repair and now, she was back 6 times, lost weight due to the vomiting and diarrhea, had no appetite and simply couldn't keep anything down and had low right abdominal pain her and there that radiated to her back. The longest stay was due to C diff. infection. The doctor said he really wasn't sure that was her problem but he was out of options to diagnose her with. She was finally able to eat a little and begin to recover.June 14 she called the ambulance due to a sharp pain in her right lower quadrant of her abdomen radiating to her back and was released on June 22. The reason was for a right kidney infarction that was later denied by another doctor. There were so many doctors and each said something contrary to the other. I decided the best route was to get a copy of the doctors notes from the visit. In these notes I found the tests revealed 2 heart valve regurgitation, kidney infarction, kidney injury, bibasilar atelectasis which is a partial collapse of a lung a breathing complication after surgery and another even bigger renal aortic aneurysm among other things.I don't mean to scare anybody but I wonder a few things. Why were we not informed of some of the findings? How did they miss another aneurysm or did they indeed cause it? Why does the vascular surgeon not cooperate with the diagnosis and treatment of her problem and just keep giving her the "everything is fine" spill? When I called for the follow up appointment the hospital recommended the doctor had told them to tell us that the only thing needed was the 3 month visit, nothing quicker. I'm not trying to point a finger just trying to find someone to help my mom. It's hard to see her weak and sick and worry about whether or not today is the last day with her. Before the surgery she was so vibrant, even having the great grandkids over for the summer. Something happened to my mom in that operating room and I really need to find out what it's going to take to get her back to where she was.There's so much that could have happened including aortic infection and I don't want anyone in trouble just help for her. In addition, she's diabetic, anemic and has COPD. One of her plaque meds valsartan is suspected to worsen the kidney infarction.

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I want to know if anyone else is dealing with these two life threatening conditions at the same time, and how are you coping with it physically and mentally?

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