I am 72 years old. I am single & live alone. Two months ago I discovered that I have a Thoracic Aortic Dilation measuring 4.8cm following a CT scan for ...Read more
I am 72 years old. I am single & live alone. Two months ago I discovered that I have a Thoracic Aortic Dilation measuring 4.8cm following a CT scan for something else. Both my brother & only uncle died from an Aortic rupture. I am on the NHS "Watch & Wait" with a further CT scan occurring in April 2026. I am on high blood pressure medication and Bisoprolol a beta blocker. I have a mildly leaking valve and Atrial Fibrillation. I have no symptoms but do get chest pain and back pain that comes and goes, in the 6/10 pain range, my heart is beating normally and my high blood pressure is under control.
I am struggling not to worry about getting an aortic rupture.
I have three questions.
At what dilation size should I consider an operation? Currently 4.8cm.
If I was offered an operation should I have one at my age?
Will I get a choice on the type of operation? Open heart or alternative.
Best wishes Steve
Valerie Allen Steve, commonly the size of an aortic aneurysm is 5.0 cm or larger for surgery. That is when is becom ... Read more
Valerie Allen Steve, commonly the size of an aortic aneurysm is 5.0 cm or larger for surgery. That is when is becomes more of a risk. I was 71 when I had that surgery. When I asked about my age, the surgeon considered me “just a baby.” I was low risk based on their rating of health factors. Lastly, I think aneurysms do need to be fixed via open heart surgery. Someone correct me if wrong. We’ve all been there, or are there. I am almost 2 years out from surgery.
Steve Hattersley Hello Valerie .. I am in the UK are you in the US? .. Size guidelines may be different. Our procedure ... Read more
Steve Hattersley Hello Valerie .. I am in the UK are you in the US? .. Size guidelines may be different. Our procedures here are free & paid for by the NHS. Size guideline here is 5.5cm BUT if you have a family history, like I have, then they might go smaller. I am due to have another CT scan in April. I am not sure whether I want the 4.8cm reading to be unchanged or rise to 5cm. I would rather have the procedure when I am as young as possible. I also have mild Parkinson's and mobility issues. Did you have you procedure through choice or emergency? Best wishes Steve
Valerie Allen Steve yes I am in the U.S. My cardiologist had originally said 5,5 cm but the heart hospital said 5.0 ... Read more
Valerie Allen Steve yes I am in the U.S. My cardiologist had originally said 5,5 cm but the heart hospital said 5.0. The surgery was by choice as I had been under Watch and wait for a decade. Best of luck to you! Keep us posted!
Fidel Martínez Ruiz Helpful opinion yours, Valerie. Steve, it is very good your engagement in the NHS "Watch & Wait ... Read more
Fidel Martínez Ruiz Helpful opinion yours, Valerie. Steve, it is very good your engagement in the NHS "Watch & Wait" follow up, given your familiar events history. In this moment of doubt, perhaps it might be good to seek for a second medical opinion in order to see if would be better to bring forward any suitable surgery. The best for you.
Richard Munson Your basic body size is also a factor. 5.0 is a worse scenario for a person that is 5 ft tall vs. a p ... Read more
Richard Munson Your basic body size is also a factor. 5.0 is a worse scenario for a person that is 5 ft tall vs. a person that is 6 ft tall. At least my cardiologist told me that. I just nod my head.
Steve Hattersley Good afternoon Fidel .. In the UK there is an Aortic charity that gives free access to a specialist Aortic nurse based at Southampton Hospital, which coincidently is where my brother went when he had his aortic rupture. The rupture made him severely disabled before a second rupture killed him. So I have been writing down a lot of the questions I have. I have a 45 minute zoom consultation with her next Tuesday. I will be asking her advice on who I should talk to etc ..
I have had a number of Atrial Fibrillation attacks, the first of which was about a year ago and by far the worst. I am now on Bisoprolol for that. Apart from these occasional attacks my heart does seem to be working really well. My entire life I have been able to hear my heart beating, since going on Bisoprolol my heart has been mostly silent.
I do feel my heart is in good working order which is a little unnerving when you are told that things are potentially quite serious. ... Read more
Steve Hattersley Good afternoon Fidel .. In the UK there is an Aortic charity that gives free access to a specialist Aortic nurse based at Southampton Hospital, which coincidently is where my brother went when he had his aortic rupture. The rupture made him severely disabled before a second rupture killed him. So I have been writing down a lot of the questions I have. I have a 45 minute zoom consultation with her next Tuesday. I will be asking her advice on who I should talk to etc ..
I have had a number of Atrial Fibrillation attacks, the first of which was about a year ago and by far the worst. I am now on Bisoprolol for that. Apart from these occasional attacks my heart does seem to be working really well. My entire life I have been able to hear my heart beating, since going on Bisoprolol my heart has been mostly silent.
I do feel my heart is in good working order which is a little unnerving when you are told that things are potentially quite serious.
My younger brother was fitter than me, slim, never drank nor smoked. On the day he had his aortic rupture I spoke to him and he seemed 100%. It is still a shock to me.
I am not quite sure whether I can choose to have the operation now with my dilation measuring 4.8cm or whether I have to wait till the dilation gets larger.
Steve
Steve Hattersley Good morning Richard. I lived 6 months of the year in a rented house in Sarasota from 2013 to 2022. I ... Read more
Steve Hattersley Good morning Richard. I lived 6 months of the year in a rented house in Sarasota from 2013 to 2022. I had a great time. Best wishes Steve
Fidel Martínez Ruiz Good evening Steve. I think is a good idea talking to the nurse you say on next Tuesday and ask her ... Read more
Fidel Martínez Ruiz Good evening Steve. I think is a good idea talking to the nurse you say on next Tuesday and ask her about the convenience or not to bring forward surgery. Sometimes it is better having surgery even without simptoms without waiting a heart damage. Wish you good luck. Keep in touch here.
Steve Hattersley Thanks Fidel will do, only 5 days to wait. I have so many questions for her. Best wishes. Steve
I am struggling not to worry about getting an aortic rupture.
I have three questions.
At what dilation size should I consider an operation? Currently 4.8cm.
If I was offered an operation should I have one at my age?
Will I get a choice on the type of operation? Open heart or alternative.
Best wishes
Steve
I have had a number of Atrial Fibrillation attacks, the first of which was about a year ago and by far the worst. I am now on Bisoprolol for that. Apart from these occasional attacks my heart does seem to be working really well. My entire life I have been able to hear my heart beating, since going on Bisoprolol my heart has been mostly silent.
I do feel my heart is in good working order which is a little unnerving when you are told that things are potentially quite serious.
... Read more
I have had a number of Atrial Fibrillation attacks, the first of which was about a year ago and by far the worst. I am now on Bisoprolol for that. Apart from these occasional attacks my heart does seem to be working really well. My entire life I have been able to hear my heart beating, since going on Bisoprolol my heart has been mostly silent.
I do feel my heart is in good working order which is a little unnerving when you are told that things are potentially quite serious.
My younger brother was fitter than me, slim, never drank nor smoked. On the day he had his aortic rupture I spoke to him and he seemed 100%. It is still a shock to me.
I am not quite sure whether I can choose to have the operation now with my dilation measuring 4.8cm or whether I have to wait till the dilation gets larger.
Steve