{"id":24751,"date":"2018-07-11T20:23:06","date_gmt":"2018-07-12T01:23:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/?p=24751"},"modified":"2025-05-12T10:57:20","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T15:57:20","slug":"top-5-facts-aorta-aneurysm-bicuspid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/2018\/07\/11\/top-5-facts-aorta-aneurysm-bicuspid\/","title":{"rendered":"What 5 Facts Should You Know About The Aorta?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you didn’t know…<\/p>\n

Your aorta is the largest artery in the body. \u00a0It starts at the top of the heart’s main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, and extends down to the abdomen. \u00a0Blood is pumped from the left ventricle into the aorta through the aortic valve, which is a tri-leaflet heart valve for 98% of the population.<\/p>\n

As many people in this patient community are aware, the aorta can weaken and expand. \u00a0This bulge in the aorta is called an aneurysm. \u00a0In worse case scenarios, an aortic aneurysm can rupture (or dissect). \u00a0Together, we have learned that many patients with heart valve disease – especially bicuspid aortic valves – also have aortic aneurysms.<\/p>\n

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In a recent newsletter, I referenced an educational post by Dr. Thomas Gleason<\/a> about timing the surgical intervention for an aortic aneurysm and bicuspid aortic valve. \u00a0In the post, Dr. Gleason referenced the guidelines that doctors use to determine when to operate. \u00a0Shortly after mentioning this article, Dr. Paul Fedak<\/a>, a Calgary-based heart surgeon and long-time supporter of HeartValveSurgery.com, sent me an email. \u00a0In his note, Dr. Fedak informed me that the guidelines had changed and that we should update our community.<\/p>\n

I thought it was a great idea.<\/p>\n

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\"\"Dr. Paul Fedak – Heart Surgeon<\/p>\n

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Dr. Fedak’s Top 5 Facts About Your Aorta<\/h2>\n

I asked Dr. Fedak, who is an incredibly nice guy, what should patients know about the aorta.<\/p>\n

In response, he sent me these “Top 5 Fact About Your Aorta”.<\/p>\n

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  1. You are not a ticking time bomb. Research is showing that the risk of the aorta rupturing or dissecting is not as high as we once believed;<\/li>\n
  2. Surgery to remove an enlarged aorta is recommended for most people with Bicuspid Aortic Valve<\/u>\u00a0at 5.5 cm (based on a CT scan or MRI test);<\/li>\n
  3. Surgery to remove an enlarged aorta is recommended for some people with Bicuspid Aortic Valve<\/u>\u00a0at 5.0 cm (if they have other high risk features as determined by your physicians);<\/li>\n
  4. Surgery to remove an enlarged aorta is recommended for most people with Bicuspid Aortic Valve at 4.5 cm if they are already having valve or other heart surgery;<\/u><\/li>\n
  5. Surgery to remove an enlarged aorta is NOT recommended<\/u>\u00a0if the size of the aorta is under 5.0 cm if the valve is still working well and the patient is of average height\/body size.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    More Insights About Bicuspid Aortic Valves & Aortic Aneurysms<\/h2>\n

    As you can see above, there is a direct connection between aortic aneurysms and Bicuspid Aortic Valves. \u00a0Bicsupid aortic valves have two valve leaflets instead of three. \u00a0And, Bicuspid Aortic Valves are the most common congenital cardiac disorder. \u00a0If you would like to read more about this topic, you can review the American Association for Thoracic Surgery Consensus Guidelines on Bicuspid Aortic Valve-Related Aortopathy, by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Many thanks to Dr. Fedak for keeping me and our patient community up-to-speed on the guidelines that help clinicians determine the best and most appropriate time for an operation!!!<\/p>\n