Okay, I am on a track toward having surgery for an ascending aortic aneurysm measured at 5.5 cm on May 2 by my prospective surgeon. I have taken just one of a battery of five tests so far, but they are supposed to come in rapid order over the coming week. Then, likely, a surgery date.
Now on this Sunday morning, my feet are getting cold.
Wondering if we couldn't just hold off and do another echo in 3 to 6 months to see if this sucker really is growing.
A little background: Had aortic root and valve replacement in 2005. Aneurysm was measured at 5.5 in surgery; valve, bicuspid, was extremely leaky.
Replacement valve is still working well. A Medtronic Freestyle, porcine.
The surgeon says in process of zapping the current aneurysm, he would go ahead and put in a new valve. And a valve job makes sense, I suppose. They don't last forever and 14 years has been a pretty good run.
Still, I wonder re the aneurysm: what are the risks of rupture or dissection at 5.5 cm? What degree of chance would you be taking to delay and see if you are on a track to 6.0?
A little more background: This same aneurysm was measured at 5.1 cm on a CT 10 years ago. Not deemed a problem then. The measurement on a CT this March was 5.3 cm -- didn't seem like much of an increase over a decade. But my original surgeon back in Virginia took a look as a favor to me, and he measured it at 5.7 and word came back to me that he thought it was growing rapidly. That's when I visited my current prospective surgeon in North Carolina and got the 5.5 measurement and recommendation to address it surgically.
I was 63 when I had the first surgery. Now, lo and behold, I am 77. Have stayed active -- walking and exercise class -- but cringe at thought of another OHS. Could be 5-7 days in hospital, then rehab center, leaving a lot of life in limbo.
So feet are cold this Sunday morning. What if I just put the whole thing off?
Now on this Sunday morning, my feet are getting cold.
Wondering if we couldn't just hold off and do another echo in 3 to 6 months to see if this sucker really is growing.
A little background: Had aortic root and valve replacement in 2005. Aneurysm was measured at 5.5 in surgery; valve, bicuspid, was extremely leaky.
Replacement valve is still working well. A Medtronic Freestyle, porcine.
The surgeon says in process of zapping the current aneurysm, he would go ahead and put in a new valve. And a valve job makes sense, I suppose. They don't last forever and 14 years has been a pretty good run.
Still, I wonder re the aneurysm: what are the risks of rupture or dissection at 5.5 cm? What degree of chance would you be taking to delay and see if you are on a track to 6.0?
A little more background: This same aneurysm was measured at 5.1 cm on a CT 10 years ago. Not deemed a problem then. The measurement on a CT this March was 5.3 cm -- didn't seem like much of an increase over a decade. But my original surgeon back in Virginia took a look as a favor to me, and he measured it at 5.7 and word came back to me that he thought it was growing rapidly. That's when I visited my current prospective surgeon in North Carolina and got the 5.5 measurement and recommendation to address it surgically.
I was 63 when I had the first surgery. Now, lo and behold, I am 77. Have stayed active -- walking and exercise class -- but cringe at thought of another OHS. Could be 5-7 days in hospital, then rehab center, leaving a lot of life in limbo.
So feet are cold this Sunday morning. What if I just put the whole thing off?
Last edited: