Aneurysms Support Group
An aneurysm (or aneurism) is localized, blood-filled dilation (bulge) of a blood vessel caused by disease or weakening of the vessel wall. Aneurysms most commonly occur in arteries at the base of the brain and in the aorta - this is an aortic aneurysm. This bulge in a blood vessel can burst and lead to death at any time.
Hi, I've been diagnosed with a thoracic aortic aneurysm. It's related to the heart surgery I had as a kid to repair coarctation of the aorta.
My doctor has been leaning more towards a stent graft but there are complications due to the location as well as a narrow aorta from my childhood repair, and it would probably be placed across the left subclavian artery. To deal with this, he's talked about a bypass graft from the left to the right subclavian artery. But he's also mentioned that this would require exercise limitations.
I'm still just 55 and want to make sure I take care of this thing in a way that will allow me the best life possible for as long as possible. This doctor is less keen on open surgery and of course I'd prefer to avoid it, but I don't know. Am really getting confused and would appreciate feedback. It's a pseudoaneurysm so needs to be dealt with soon.
My doctor has been leaning more towards a stent graft but there are complications due to the location as well as a narrow aorta from my childhood repair, and it would probably be placed across the left subclavian artery. To deal with this, he's talked about a bypass graft from the left to the right subclavian artery. But he's also mentioned that this would require exercise limitations.
I'm still just 55 and want to make sure I take care of this thing in a way that will allow me the best life possible for as long as possible. This doctor is less keen on open surgery and of course I'd prefer to avoid it, but I don't know. Am really getting confused and would appreciate feedback. It's a pseudoaneurysm so needs to be dealt with soon.
I would get a second opinion. Heart artery repair is dangerous in of itself but this sounds like a situation that needs attention. As radical as an open surgery may be , part of your case has to do with a replacement with artery material that was child sized. Good enough for under a hundred pound weight blood volume and pressure, but not for a full adult and the additional strain that brings. The pressure at the point of fusion is like passing water from a 3/4 inch tube through a 1/4 inch tube. The aneurysm will happen when the pressure must condense to the smaller passage. The pseudo- is because it was a man made reduction, not a congenital or injury induced reduction that is becoming a pooling area stretching the fusion point. So the artery that is natural in size to that part of your body is giving under the pressure. A stent could open the inserted section but there would need to be enough flexibility in the piece that was replaced. A bypass would probably be taken from your leg where there is artery material that wouldn't be rejected and with the strength and flexibility to hold.
Prayers that this has been resolved.