Hello,
I have had a St Jude’s mechanical aortic valve since 1992 secondary to a congenital bicuspid aortic valve. The cardiologist indicated a concern with dilatation of the aorta following a yearly ultrasound and a follow-up CT with contrast revealed that the root is 3.5 cm TV and 3.6 cm AP, the ascending aorta at the level of pulmonary bifurcations is 4.5cm x 4.5cm, and the arch anatomy is described as normal at 2.6cm. I received the information over the phone on Tuesday, April 4th from the cardiologists nurse. The nurse indicated that my cardiologist will likely recommend a surgical consultation when he returns from vacation next week and I was given a prescription for a beta blocker via another physician at the practice. This was a less than desirable way to get this type of information...
This said, I am very anxious because I do not fully understand the implications of the CT findings and the best course of action. To add my apprehension, my relatively new internist that I contacted to discuss the CT answered no questions but asked me why the cardiologist was not performing a CT on a yearly basis, why this was my first CT of the aorta, and why I was not taking beta blockers already. While the cardiologist was highly recommended and appears to have a good reputation, I am now left with a poor understanding of the diagnosis, I am uncertain of the best course of action, I am questioning if my cardiologist was properly managing my condition, and I am not getting answers until next Friday.
Help with better understanding the diagnosis/severity of the diagnosis, and advice on the ideal follow-up for the dilatation of my ascending aorta would be greatly appreciated. Any recommendations for top doctors in Michigan would also be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
I have had a St Jude’s mechanical aortic valve since 1992 secondary to a congenital bicuspid aortic valve. The cardiologist indicated a concern with dilatation of the aorta following a yearly ultrasound and a follow-up CT with contrast revealed that the root is 3.5 cm TV and 3.6 cm AP, the ascending aorta at the level of pulmonary bifurcations is 4.5cm x 4.5cm, and the arch anatomy is described as normal at 2.6cm. I received the information over the phone on Tuesday, April 4th from the cardiologists nurse. The nurse indicated that my cardiologist will likely recommend a surgical consultation when he returns from vacation next week and I was given a prescription for a beta blocker via another physician at the practice. This was a less than desirable way to get this type of information...
This said, I am very anxious because I do not fully understand the implications of the CT findings and the best course of action. To add my apprehension, my relatively new internist that I contacted to discuss the CT answered no questions but asked me why the cardiologist was not performing a CT on a yearly basis, why this was my first CT of the aorta, and why I was not taking beta blockers already. While the cardiologist was highly recommended and appears to have a good reputation, I am now left with a poor understanding of the diagnosis, I am uncertain of the best course of action, I am questioning if my cardiologist was properly managing my condition, and I am not getting answers until next Friday.
Help with better understanding the diagnosis/severity of the diagnosis, and advice on the ideal follow-up for the dilatation of my ascending aorta would be greatly appreciated. Any recommendations for top doctors in Michigan would also be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
