Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others

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

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.

@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!

Key Considerations for Air Travel
Aneurysm Size & Stability: Small, asymptomatic aneurysms are generally deemed safe for travel.
Large (>5cm or 50mm
or rapidly growing aneurysms pose a higher risk, with some advising to avoid flying.
Waiting Time Post-Surgery: Recommendations for flying after surgery vary, with some suggesting a waiting period of at least 6 weeks to ensure stability.
Cabin Pressure & Oxygen: Commercial flights pressurize to lower than sea-level pressure, which reduces oxygen and can increase heart rate, potentially straining the aortic wall.
Safety Precautions:
Consult Specialists: Discuss travel plans with your cardiologist or vascular surgeon 4–6 weeks beforehand.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids to counter dry cabin air.
Move Regularly: Walk around the cabin to prevent blood clots (DVT).
Carry Medication: Keep necessary medications in your carry-on bag.
National Institutes of Health (.gov)
National Institutes of Health (.gov)
+7
On r/valvereplacement, some users reported being advised to avoid flying with a 5.3 cm dilated aortic root, while others in a Facebook group discussed flying with a 5.2 cm aneurysm. Ultimately, individualized medical advice is essential.

I have an abdominal aortic aneurysm .
Reviewing the results of the pst two years ultrasounds the score on my web site shows/
Two columns :
9/3/2024 and 8/26/2025
4.2x 4.1cm. 4.1 x 4.2 cm
For the line item “Proximal near diaphragm “
To me looks like the same dimensions just in a different order?
Is this a SOP for medical record entries ?

@shayne1970 glad to hear. It sounds like you are in great hands.

@breick It is just below a 5. From my research, 5.5 is go time but I am sure that varies between individuals. Surgeons like to cut. Some people probably know surgery is inevitable and just want to get it over with.

Thoracic surgery is no cake walk. I have a fairly muscular torso so recovery will be difficult. The more muscle, the more pain from what I am told.

My surgery will be aortic resection of the root. Valves are good so the procedure will be a David procedure which is a positive for me. No need for ant-coagulants.

Thanks for your reply.

@tripleaaa Thankyou for your information. Some of the stories on here inspire me. Living with a medical condition should not prevent living.

My wife is a ACLS/PALS certified nurse with background in ICU and now in PACU. She is at a major hospital and is familiar with many cardiologists so I will be well taken care of. I have some adjustments to make with the stress in my life. Work smarter not harder is now my new motto.

My MRI is in 6 months and will contribute to the group as much as I can in the meantime.

@shayne1970 If it's "large", why are they waiting 6 months? Find a cardiologist who specializes in aortas.

Hi am interested in following aortic aneurysms as have an inoperable condition