Ascending aortic aneurysm – repair/surgery

Thank you for this group! My husband was just diagnosed with an AAA thru the need for a CT scan due to elevated risk of a blood clot in his lungs and pneumonia. He is 53 and 6ft 3 with a CT measurement of 4.5. He was told to see a primary care doctor to get a cardiac referral. When he had the primary appointment, the doctor choose to monitor his BP and get him in for a sleep study. Should a cardiac referral be pushed more aggressively, or should we just monitor and wait? There is no family history of AAA and his BP is good. As his wife with two younger kids, I just want to make sure that we are taking all of the best possible steps.

I would seek out a vascular surgeon. You do not know how fast the anuerisim is growing and I would want to know. I had the repair 4 years ago. Everything went fine, but I had to suggest to my primary physician to check the size. He did and it was a 5.5. Went to best vascular surgeon was in surgery within 2 weeks. I don't know if the primaries don't get it or what. Good luck. Have it checked.

My age at the time of surgery was 71. Karen

Usually doctors will not operate until an aneurysm is 5.0. But if I were you, I wold make appointment with both the cardiologist and the vascular surgeon. You probably will need referrals to both. While the vascular surgeon would do the surgery if necessary, your husband will need a cardiologist after the surgery and before for determine if he is healthy enough for it as well as checking triglycerides etc. best of luck to you, your husband and your family. No need to worry yet.

Without a question of a doubt your husband should be under the care of a good cardiologist!

I had surgery for this condition almost 4 years ago at the age of 78. I had confidence in my surgeon and must say that I came thru it with flying colors. I also had no support to speak of as I lived alone but did have a couple of nurse visits for about 3-3 weeks. I had my surgery done at Mayo Clinic in Rochester and can state that it was a wonderful experience. Rest assured, if you have confidence in your doctor and are at a place like Mayo you will be fine. Hope this helps your wondering.

I had my surgery at Abbott Heart. My surgeon was Tim Sullivan. He is retiring but is sending.me the name of.a surgeon that he.suggests I go to when he.leaves. I will forward to you as soon as I get it. They lost an excellent surgeon when Dr. Sullivan retires. Take care.

I hope you are still at 4.7. I am 66 and am about to get the second scan, this time by CT. The first was echo. It was essentially a 4.0 (Doc thought it could be 3.8 or 3.9). I will continue to follow you, as I am similar of body and age. My bp is not as good as yours, I take amlodipine at 10mg.

3 mos. before my 70th birthday I had my aortic aneurism replaced and a multiple by-pass. They let me out of the hospital two days early which was a first for that hospital. Ten days later I was in rehab went back to gym. Watch the cardiologist's I've been overdosed 4 times, one required a hospital visit for 3 days. They let me go after 3 days with no comment. All of these heart meds have hundreds of interaction. Read up on it and be your own advocate.

I can understand you perfectly. I was diagnosed with a ascending aorta aneurysm when I was 73 and It terrified me and it was 3.8, but it has remained stable, so I am more stable also. I went to Cleveland Clinic in Ohio before I was satisfied. We are both small so that matters. I also contacted the Heart Society and was assigned a wonderful Heart Sister. She had had a diagnosis and then surgery in her forties. If you do a video consultation with the Cleveland Clinic and you can see a doctor there and I paid nothing extra except my travel costs. I hope all is well and expect to be troubled, but try to focus on information and making the right decision for you and make sure your body size is considered. Most heart stats are done for men, Maybe, they now have some stats for women. I wish you well for a long time.