Second opinion for Ascending Aortic Surgery

I sought out Mayo because they care for thousands of people with ascending aortic aneurysms. With a lot of surgeries and a team approach, the patient has a higher survival rate and less complications ( like stroke, heart attack, kidney damage or other organ damage etc.), during the surgery and the 30 days following it. I found during my research, that the Cleveland clinic is ranked number 1, but Mayo in Phoenix is closer to me. Unless I rupture or dissect, I want my surgery performed there. I discovered that ascending aortic repair is one of the most dangerous surgeries. The reason the cardio -vascular surgeon waits until it grows, is, at a certain diameter depending on genetic issues like Marfan or having a bi cuspid aortic valve, the risk of dying from the aneurysm is greater than the risk of dying from the surgery. For me it’s not a second opinion although they are very thorough and do a genetic panel to check for certain issues that would require an earlier surgery….

Thank you @ginnycake . You confirmed what I was thinking, they do thousands of these surgeries a year. I will look into making an appointment.

I do have my aortic repair in mass general in Massachusetts. My surgery from one day to the next day . They brought me in helicopter because my aortic ascending aortic was broke. I was in good hands doctors. I was in ICU two weeks because I had a kidney transplant 5 years ago and my kidney stop for a week also I have a mini stroke in my head and circulation in my legs. Was complicated. Took me 6 months to get well . A lost a lot weight. My family thought I could die but I survive . Now I take care I do not do any lifting . Hard exercise . So my aortic will not break again.

They did open surgery . But the doctor told me if something happen will not be open surgery . They did that because it was an emergency . Now they do monitoring once a year.

Hope that can help you.

Hi, Betty. I see Dr. Piazza at Mass General Brigham's Shapiro Center. It's good to hear that they could handle your case. I'm talking with him about getting the surgery scheduled because my ascending aortic aneurysm went from 4.7 cm on 2/11/21 to 5.1 cm this past January. I'm just tired of the ticking time bomb, you know?

Confirm what is ment by full open heart surgery. I had surgery and the surgeons had to break chest bone and then wrap in metal wire. A coworker had open heart but no brones broken and my incision is 8 inches and his is 3 inches

Good luck .me too I
Have to scheduled an MRI again. I hope that I am stable.
Regards

The surgeon said it would require sternotomy. Sounds like the same thing your had. Hope you are doing well!

@ginnycake I decide to contact Cleveland Clinic for an appointment. I was very surprised that my insurance was considered in-network for Cleveland Clinic! I will be seeing them in October. Just making this appointment provides me some relief in the stress in dealing with this.

In January I switch over to Medicare. I’m starting to look for an Advantage Plan that Cleveland Clinic accepts.

Jbh456!
I think you’re very wise. I’m so happy you made that decision, that it is covered and that you shared it with me. I hope you continue your journey in great health and with LOTS of love. God bless you.🙏🤗

I think going to Mayo or Cleveland for these surgeries is a very good idea. I live on the East coast and went to Mayo for a second opinion. I was very impressed by the coordinated "Teamcare" that they practice. Everyone seemed to be on the same page and it felt very patient-centered. The doctors took the time to answer all my questions. I selected Penn Medicine in Philly only because I felt the doctors and their experience/expertise was very similar between the 2 hospitals but, I was concerned with how far I would be from my family and their support. I was also concerned with the flight back East and what kind of shape I would be in.
Wherever you have it done, I would focus on the skill of the surgeon doing your surgery (his outcomes) and how many of your specific surgeries he has performed.
Don't be shy about asking for numbers and specifics. They know and should have that information and be willing to share it.
You wouldn't want a "decent" bomb technician defusing a bomb in your living room. You'd want the best you can find to increase your chances of a good outcome. If you're at a teaching hospital, make sure the senior surgeon is in control. Good luck and sorry for the very long response. (BTW, I've had 2 surgeries to replace my entire descending aorta down to my legs, after a Dissection of the same length.)