Ascending aortic aneurysm – repair/surgery

I asked about surgery. All sorts of bad things can happen like a stroke etc, so keep BP down and keep in shape , if possible.

Be sure and use only a top surgeon at Mayo or Cleveland Clinic, the 2 best heart health hospitals in America. My surgeon at Cleveland Clinic who removed my aneurism and put in the replacement tube that will be with me in my casket 30 years from now. I'm 75, live a full life, work out daily for 90 minutes, elliptical, treadmill, weights, floor exercises, am an active citizen, board member, happy father of adult children, travel extensively and have no fear that an aneurism will tear and kill me. My surgery was 5 years ago at age 70. 3 weeks rehab and done. Eating right, getting restful sleep, eliminating stress, taking appropriate Rx's, statin, ARB, aspirin and various supplements and I am stronger and better than I was 6 years ago. Reread 1st sentence! Only use the best. My surgeon, only operated on aortic aneurisms, did 400-500 per year, nothing else. He is acknowledged as best in the world!

I am close to needing aortic surgery. Do you mind telling who your doctor was? Thank you sir. So glad that you are doing well.

I am 75 in a few more weeks. My cardiologist thinks I have many years ahead before surgery would be required. Ascending thoracic aneurysm currently stands at 4.5 and the descending aneurysm at 4.0. Many years moves me into the 80s. Any one have thoughts on going through this type of surgery in one's advanced years or should I just let nature take its course.

I think your cardiologist could give you a good idea as to which way to go. I plan to just carry on and let nature take its course and hope I never need surgery. I too am 75 but my ascending aortic aneurysm is a bit smaller, about 4.1 however, the aortic valve is floppy so that might be what draws me to surgery and that and the aneurysm would likely be done at the same time.

Hi, the doctor I profiled that performed my surgery to correct my aortic aneurism and put in a bovine valve, as my aortic valve had torn leaflets that would have required a future surgery, was Dr. Lars Svensson who is head of their heart and vascular surgery division. The best way to make this journey productive is to call Jeanne Murphy Rn/BSN, assistant to the President (216-445-2500) and tell her why you wish to explore whether you need the surgery or not. She will direct you to the experts in the cardiology department for a review. They will ask for all your records; Echo's, CT scans, MRI's, X rays, ECG's, other health issues. Once they get everything, a cardiologist will contact you and probably suggest an appointment at Cleveland Clinic. Then you will go through 1-2 days of meetings, testing, reviews and at the end of the 2 days they will either send you home with no action needed, or schedule an appointment several months down the road. At that point, you should call Jeanne Murphy and ask her how do you get scheduled with Dr. Svensson. I may add CC has at least 2 other surgeons who are specialists in aortic aneurisms and they also are regarded as highly qualified. I am sure Mayo has excellent surgeons, as well. Another plus for Cleveland Clinic is they have a hotel right in the middle of the hospital's campus. It is an IHG hotel, very reasonable and you never have to go outside. Hope this helps and good luck.

That was extremely helpful. Thank you so much.

Thanks for your response. Because I am older, I guess, I'm not overly worried about living a longer life. I have a strong spiritual practice, i.e., Tara Brach, Eckhart Tolle, Depak Chopra, Wayne Dyer and a Guru, Paramahansa Yogananda (Self-Realization Fellowship). All of which I've been engaged with for literally years. This life has been a wonderful learning experience and I hope to some day be fully self-realized and can objectively view this body as a vehicle and not have total identification with it and think it's who I really am. I am grateful for this board (as I have said before) -- there are some wonderful volunteers (and participants) writing here. Blessings...

I would add just another comment. I had an aneurysm repair along with the doctor rebuilding my arch at age 72. It was much easier than I thought it would be. I was mostly healthy going into surgery so that helped. It was done at May Clinic in Rochester by Dr. Alberto Pochettino, who is a world respected surgeon. I was older than you and really had no problems afterward. So please don’t think you are too old. Best of luck to you!

Thank you for responding, I appreciate what you had to say. I'm open to suggestions, but, and here's the big "but" -- I don't know how wise it would be to have open heart when I'm in my 80s.