Thoracic aortic aneurysm: Anyone had surgery?

Posted by jbsb93 @jbsb93, Jul 28, 2011

I was born with a hole in my heart and have had 2 surgeries. One to fix hole and the other a valve replacement. I've been recently told the I have a thoracic aneurysm and possibly will need more surgery.. Anyone gone th ru this before??

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aortic Aneurysms Support Group.

I qwas diagnosed for a thoracic aorta aneurysm this month. Also had syrgery for a triple A Abdominal aorta aneurysm three years ago. I am looking for reassurance due to my magic magnifying mind...seems like I have a time bomb ready to go off. How did or how are you dealing with this aldona @jbsb93

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@aldona

I qwas diagnosed for a thoracic aorta aneurysm this month. Also had syrgery for a triple A Abdominal aorta aneurysm three years ago. I am looking for reassurance due to my magic magnifying mind...seems like I have a time bomb ready to go off. How did or how are you dealing with this aldona @jbsb93

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Well, my body handled it real well with lots of prayers from people all over the country I made it through it. I had my surgery done at the Univ of WA Medical Center in Seattle but I've had 2 previous surgeries done at Mayo. If I had lived closer I would have gone to Mayo. However, they did a wonderful job at the UW. I had
Dr. Verrier as my surgeon and his team said that if they would have this surgery done, they would have him. I don't know how big your aneurysm is but I wouldn't wait. Mine turned out to be 6cm. I will pray for you. Please let me know how it turns out.

Sharice

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Endovascular Surgery for thoracic aorta aneurysm

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I was diagnosed 4 months ago with an aneurysm on my ascending aorta, 4.3 cm. I'm 66 years old. My father died from a dissected (burst) aortic aneurysm when he was 60. The recommendations seem to vary as far as blood pressure control to prevent dissection. Some say keep the systolic pressure below 140 mm Hg. Others say to get it below 120 mm Hg. Who's right?

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@johnwburns

I was diagnosed 4 months ago with an aneurysm on my ascending aorta, 4.3 cm. I'm 66 years old. My father died from a dissected (burst) aortic aneurysm when he was 60. The recommendations seem to vary as far as blood pressure control to prevent dissection. Some say keep the systolic pressure below 140 mm Hg. Others say to get it below 120 mm Hg. Who's right?

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Hi John, I was diagnosed a year and a half ago with the same thing. Mine is 4.6 cm and also dissected. They wanted to do emergency surgery. I told them I felt good and I wanted to get a
Second opinion. They took me to another hospital. I was there for about 4 days. They did all the test again and it ended up with us keeping an eye on it. No surgery, I did a 3 month, 6 month and a one year check up, and now the told me to come back in a year. I was glad to hear this. They told me not to lift over 100 pounds and do not exert myself. I just try to be careful and do what they tell me. I know I can live with this. Hope you do ok too. Good Luck!

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@johnwburns

I was diagnosed 4 months ago with an aneurysm on my ascending aorta, 4.3 cm. I'm 66 years old. My father died from a dissected (burst) aortic aneurysm when he was 60. The recommendations seem to vary as far as blood pressure control to prevent dissection. Some say keep the systolic pressure below 140 mm Hg. Others say to get it below 120 mm Hg. Who's right?

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Was fled to hear that. I had follow ups at 3, 6 and 12 months. The told me to come back on a year now. I am limited to not lifting over 100 lbs. and do not exert myself. I can live with that. I hope that you do well too.
Good Luck!

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@johnwburns

I was diagnosed 4 months ago with an aneurysm on my ascending aorta, 4.3 cm. I'm 66 years old. My father died from a dissected (burst) aortic aneurysm when he was 60. The recommendations seem to vary as far as blood pressure control to prevent dissection. Some say keep the systolic pressure below 140 mm Hg. Others say to get it below 120 mm Hg. Who's right?

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I am 54 yrs old. Diagnosed with thoracic aneurysm. In 8 mos it grew from 4.3 to 4.8. I am scared to death. Anyone out there had the surgery. I dont know which is worse, the bomb in my chest or the stroke i might have diring surgery!

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Hi @michellr,
Welcome to Connect. I moved your message to this discussion to introduce you to other Connect members who are talking about thoracic aneurysm. Interestingly @aldona like you felt it was like having a time bomb inside her. @jbsb93 opted to have surgery while @clevelandme decided against it.

I'm also tagging Bruce (@ch246cf10) to bring him into the conversation.

There are many factors to consider when making such an important decision. I encourage you to continue to share your thoughts and ask questions here with people who have "been there". Sometimes it just helps to write it down.

Colleen
Connect Community Director

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Thank you. I am very aftraid of the surgery and to make matters worse I am a cardiac nurse! I am afraid of a stroke, PE, and death during surgery and sudden death if i dont. Do i just go to a local surgeon , i live in Chicago area, or do i go somewhere else. This is stressing out my life. I have humana hmo. Can i even go somewhere like mayo

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@michellr

Thank you. I am very aftraid of the surgery and to make matters worse I am a cardiac nurse! I am afraid of a stroke, PE, and death during surgery and sudden death if i dont. Do i just go to a local surgeon , i live in Chicago area, or do i go somewhere else. This is stressing out my life. I have humana hmo. Can i even go somewhere like mayo

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Settle down. You're going to be alright. Your blood pressure is under control right? Control as in systolic

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