Turkey Hunter
Well-known member
I had my annual check-up at Cleveland Clinic three weeks ago and we
have discovered that there is another aneurysm developing in the
ascending aorta and aortic arch. The cardiologist recommended it is
time for a surgical consult which my wife and I had with my surgeon
last Wednesday. The cardio's recommendation came from two years of
us seeing a slight growth in the ascending aorta. This last year it
grew 4 mm at the base of the aorta, up to 5.1 cm in that location.
The gist of the surgeon's recommendation is for me to begin thinking
through what I want done when we have to go in to fix the aneurysm.
There are a lot of options with the valves from `re-implanting' the
two that are currently in place, to a mechanical aortic and putting
my aortic (formerly pulmonary) back into the pulmonary position, to
all new tissue, or even both new mechanical. Currently, both valves
that are in place look great and are doing well. The gradient
pressures are acceptable and there is little to no leakage or
insufficiency.
In any case the aortic arch will need replaced from the aortic valve
through the arch, past the `branching' areas. It's as big as 4.5 cm
midway through the arch. Really with what the surgeon said, what has
been learned in the last few years; people with bicuspid aortic
valve disease tend to have weaker aortic tissue and, according to
him, it is becoming a standard idea and even practice with some
surgeons to replace the entire arch when performing the original
valve replacement on patients in my similar condition.
So, here I go, if we knew then what we know now, I wouldn't be
talking about anything right now except deer hunting.
He continued to say he wants me back in six months to have another
CT scan to check the size again, on top of which he wants to
get "aggressive" with my blood pressure management medication. There
is still time to begin deciding what to do when the time comes.
My sixteen year old son put it well when my wife and I told him; he
said at least we know early on this time and it's not the emergency
it was six and one half years ago.
I guess I am still some-what of a walking time bomb, just one that
has alot of time left on the count down.
(Bad joke, but oh well.)
Timing for the next open heart surgery to fix the aneurysm depends
totally on the growth rate of the aneurysm. It could be a soon as
next summer or even two years or so.
Anyone have any input or suggestions as to what the best option
would be for the valves since we will have to go in again.
Just begining the idea and research phase. AGAIN.
Ben
(one more thing, those of you that know me or we have mutual friends outside of this forum; I would greatly appreciate this information not going outside of this forum. I want to keep my personal health information from spreading around my work or family.) Very few people know that I am close to. My wife, my son, & my parents. Beyond that, no one knows. Thank you in advance for the confidentiality !
have discovered that there is another aneurysm developing in the
ascending aorta and aortic arch. The cardiologist recommended it is
time for a surgical consult which my wife and I had with my surgeon
last Wednesday. The cardio's recommendation came from two years of
us seeing a slight growth in the ascending aorta. This last year it
grew 4 mm at the base of the aorta, up to 5.1 cm in that location.
The gist of the surgeon's recommendation is for me to begin thinking
through what I want done when we have to go in to fix the aneurysm.
There are a lot of options with the valves from `re-implanting' the
two that are currently in place, to a mechanical aortic and putting
my aortic (formerly pulmonary) back into the pulmonary position, to
all new tissue, or even both new mechanical. Currently, both valves
that are in place look great and are doing well. The gradient
pressures are acceptable and there is little to no leakage or
insufficiency.
In any case the aortic arch will need replaced from the aortic valve
through the arch, past the `branching' areas. It's as big as 4.5 cm
midway through the arch. Really with what the surgeon said, what has
been learned in the last few years; people with bicuspid aortic
valve disease tend to have weaker aortic tissue and, according to
him, it is becoming a standard idea and even practice with some
surgeons to replace the entire arch when performing the original
valve replacement on patients in my similar condition.
So, here I go, if we knew then what we know now, I wouldn't be
talking about anything right now except deer hunting.
He continued to say he wants me back in six months to have another
CT scan to check the size again, on top of which he wants to
get "aggressive" with my blood pressure management medication. There
is still time to begin deciding what to do when the time comes.
My sixteen year old son put it well when my wife and I told him; he
said at least we know early on this time and it's not the emergency
it was six and one half years ago.
I guess I am still some-what of a walking time bomb, just one that
has alot of time left on the count down.
(Bad joke, but oh well.) Timing for the next open heart surgery to fix the aneurysm depends
totally on the growth rate of the aneurysm. It could be a soon as
next summer or even two years or so.
Anyone have any input or suggestions as to what the best option
would be for the valves since we will have to go in again.
Just begining the idea and research phase. AGAIN.
Ben
(one more thing, those of you that know me or we have mutual friends outside of this forum; I would greatly appreciate this information not going outside of this forum. I want to keep my personal health information from spreading around my work or family.) Very few people know that I am close to. My wife, my son, & my parents. Beyond that, no one knows. Thank you in advance for the confidentiality !
