Aneurysms, should wait for surgery?

That size is not that large, when it comes to aneurysms. I am at 4.8cm root and a 4.6 ascending and was diagnosed last summer. I am on the watch and wait protocol, I got scanned at six months with no change, now I get scanned once a year. It will not be operated on until it grows to over 5cm. The risk of surgery is higher that risk of rupture until it grows to that point. I have had my aneurysms for seven years, with a typical growth of about 1mm per year. That is fairly normal. It does depend on the heredity, and the reason for the aneurysm. I would strongly suggest genetic testing, to rule out connective tissue disorders. 

I was told the risk of my anuerysm rupturing is probably less than 1%. The risk of a serious surgical complication is 3 to 5%. Until the math evens out, they do not like to operate. Many times surgeons wait until closer to 5.5cm. Each case is very unique though.

Oh yeah, if you have a family history, not only should he get genetic testing, but it is recommended that first degree relatives (which would include you) also do so, as well as get a scan to make sure nothing untoward is going on. With your family history, I would definitely get yourself checked as well.

Not to add fuel to the fire, but given genetic connective tissue disorders, they operate sooner, sometimes much sooner depending on the disorder. The big one every doctor seems to know about is Marfan Syndrome, but there are a good many others which seem less studied. Mine is not, apparently, genetic. My test was negative for any known genetic markers for aorta disease, and I have no familial history at all. I seem to be a fluke, based on my bad Bicuspid aortic valve. 

As to the anxiety of the diagnosis, I can relate. But the truth is, after the first month or two, which was hellish, I got used to it. My anxiety is more or less gone now, and I have learned to really live in the moment. In some ways, I am a happier person now, living with this, than I was before diagnosis. 

If you use Facebook, I can point you in the direction of a phenomenal support group there for patients and their families. It has helped me immeasurably, and is a supremely positive place with people on both sides of this diagnosis, from the newly diagnosed, to those like me watching and waiting, those who are about to have surgery, and those who had their surgery, in some cases, decades ago and all are very helpful and willing to share.

This is not a death sentence, especially when caught before dissection, which your father has had the good fortune to have done. It is scary, to be sure, but medically speaking, it is definitely not the worst thing one can face.  

Let me know if you want a link to the facebook group and I will pass it along.They have a lot more information than I would be able to provide, and some solid experience, probably someone with your father's exact kind of anuerysm.

Also, do you happen to be in the United States? If so, I would recommend a consult with the Cleveland Clinic. Even if your father's insurance does not cover there, you can get a second opinion from them for $500. They are, bar none, the best in the world at dealing with this problem. They do it thousands of times a year there, and have the foremost cardio-thoracic surgeons in this field. 

Oh yeah, if you have a family history, not only should he get genetic testing, but it is recommended that first degree relatives (which would include you) also do so, as well as get a scan to make sure nothing untoward is going on. With your family history, I would definitely get yourself checked as well.

Not to add fuel to the fire, but given genetic connective tissue disorders, they operate sooner, sometimes much sooner depending on the disorder. The big one every doctor seems to know about is Marfan Syndrome, but there are a good many others which seem less studied. Mine is not, apparently, genetic. My test was negative for any known genetic markers for aorta disease, and I have no familial history at all. I seem to be a fluke, based on my bad Bicuspid aortic valve. 

As to the anxiety of the diagnosis, I can relate. But the truth is, after the first month or two, which was hellish, I got used to it. My anxiety is more or less gone now, and I have learned to really live in the moment. In some ways, I am a happier person now, living with this, than I was before diagnosis. 

If you use Facebook, I can point you in the direction of a phenomenal support group there for patients and their families. It has helped me immeasurably, and is a supremely positive place with people on both sides of this diagnosis, from the newly diagnosed, to those like me watching and waiting, those who are about to have surgery, and those who had their surgery, in some cases, decades ago and all are very helpful and willing to share.

This is not a death sentence, especially when caught before dissection, which your father has had the good fortune to have done. It is scary, to be sure, but medically speaking, it is definitely not the worst thing one can face.  

Let me know if you want a link to the facebook group and I will pass it along.They have a lot more information than I would be able to provide, and some solid experience, probably someone with your father's exact kind of anuerysm.

Also, do you happen to be in the United States? If so, I would recommend a consult with the Cleveland Clinic. Even if your father's insurance does not cover there, you can get a second opinion from them for $500. They are, bar none, the best in the world at dealing with this problem. They do it thousands of times a year there, and have the foremost cardio-thoracic surgeons in this field. 

Hi Tori - I was diagnosed in November last year with an AA at 5.1 - it depends who you talk to regarding when to have surgery - my advice is to wait 6 months to see if it is growing and the research that I have done supports this advice - keeping a monitor on it a sounds advice and also they should be looking for reduce blood pressure if its higher than normal - there are people who have been diagnosed at over 5 and never had surgery and went on to live for decades - once you get your head around it, its OK - it is however like walking around with a time bomb in your chest - Kevin Helliker is a good source of information if you want to research further

Good luck to you and your Dad

Anyone have an update on KEVIN HELLIKER? I know he had an Aortic Aneurysm 15 years ago, but did he end up getting surgery or is he still in the watch and wait stage? I've check online and even his Facebook page but no mention on the status on his Aneurysm.