hello i am new to the group and i was wondering if anyone can help me with some information on aortic anurisms as my father has an 8cm anurism in his aorta . it is slowly leaking and he can not have an operation to repair it as his hear and lungs are to badly damaged and he will not survive. we have been told to take him home and live every day as if it were his last with us . my four sisters and my mother are in panic mode . we dont know how long to expect him to live , i was wondering if anyone has been in the same position and if there was a time limit for this . please help . hugs debz

I am sorry for your plight. I do not know much about aneurysms either but would really like to know more about them. Is there a website which explains what they are, what causes them, etc. Some people have suggested that my brother in law had one without knowing it. Please provide myself and Deb with some info. Ta, Tina

Debz,

An 8 cm aortic aneurism is huge and very serious. He should have immediate surgery. Probably a second opinion is needed at this point.

IF he cannot have surgery he will increase the length of his survival time by keeping his blood pressure as low as drugs can get it. The analogy is a hose with a big bulge in it; ONE surge of pressure and that's it. Beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers seem to be the best drugs.

I think the situation is dire and therefore maybe even a surgery with a 75% chance of dying is worth taking. Neeedless to say, you wasnt the best vascular surgeon you can find.

If, on the other hand, his lung condition is a terminal one, perhaps just keeping him comfortable with a low BP is the better way to go.
Ultimately it's his decision and the best you can do is to get him a GOOD list of his options...another opinion is the first step.

IF what he has was called a DISSECTING AORTA (since you said it was bleeding), there's amost nothing that can be done and the prognosis is a quick one. :(

Sorry for the Hell you are all going through.

Hi Debz,

There are non-invasive procedures for heart valve operations and less traumatizing and not necessary to go on a mechanical heart and valve machine. It does require special training and experience for the surgeon and that may be an option.

About 18 months ago I was diagnosed with heart failure due to a damaged left ventricle that was too weak to pump blood to meet demand. A bypass of totally blocked coronary artery was not an option because my cardiac output was too low and I had fluids in my lungs.. If the EF (pumping capacity) is below 30% surgery is not recommended unless it is a life or death situation.

With medication my EF is 50% (almost normal), heart size has reduced to normal and valve regurgitation is now moderate (was severe). There are no symptoms and an operation on the valve and bypass can now proceed, but with the medication it may not be necessary unless there is a turn in my condition or symptoms.

To conclude you may have two options. Less invasive operation or treatment of the heart and lung disorder until it would be safer to operate.

hi this is debz . just replying to your message and saying thankyou for getting back to me so fast . my father went back to the hospital for another check up and was told his kydneys are failing to work now . the doctors can not operate on his anurism as his heart and lung specialists say he would not pull through they say his condition is to serious to operate . he also has a pace maker hehas had it for about four years now . we are told that dialisis for his kydneys is not an option and nor it the operation for his anurism so it is up to us now to keep him comfortable and make him as happy as we can with the time he has got left with us . i dont realy know much more than his anurism is 8cm and leaking . we were told that we should live every day now as if it were his last with us . any oppinions on maybe how long he may last with us with an anurism that big . and have you heard of one being bigger than that . looking forward to hearing back from you and thankyou again for your help .. hugs debz xx

Hello Debz,
I assume that the doctors have informed your father of the very serious nature of his situation. Even if surgical intervention was possible, his chances of survival would be considered low. No one knows just how your father will do, as every individual is different, and events cannot be predicted beyond a certain probability. Have you spoken with your father about what seems to be a high probability of his death fairly soon. The kidney failure is adding to his problems, and as you say he cannot undergo dialysis if it continues. I feel for you a lot,having been in a very similar situation, but it does help to meet it head-on in a way, especially if you can talk about this crisis with your father, other close relatives, the nurses and doctors. Obviously, making sure your father is as comfortable as possible is a priority, and you may have to bear a lot of emotional pain yourself to relieve his emotional state. Only an experienced doctor could give you some idea of how long he may survive, but nobody really knows. You and your Dad have to take it day by day. This is the best way for you both to get through this crises period in your lives. I'll be thinking of you and all the best.
Regards, Excelsior

thankyou for your reply it is nice to have someont to talk to . ive never lost anyone so close to me before so it is realy hard for me at the moment . i also feel that i have to stay strong for my mother and four sisters , i had to break the news of my fathers anurism to my sisters before they faced my mother in the hospital as the dr said it was better to keep my father calm and not to cry or get upset in front of him. i have never done anything so hard in my life as to face my four sisters and give them this terrible news . i pray every day that my father has a little more time with my mother ,us and his grand children . we have spoken to him and we know what he wants when he goes , we talk to him clamly about the plans for his funeral and have gotten some things under way. my father knows what is happening and he has faced it so calm i realy dont know how he is handling the matter. he knows we love him and he knows my mother will be looked after when he is gone . we are making sure he knows that everything will be ok when he is gone . what more do you think we can do ? thankyou again hugs debz xxxx

Hello again Debz,
You seem to be handling the siuation extremely well, and therefore giving much courage and love to your father. Also, you are bearing, a lot of the pain for your sisters and mother and helping them enormously I think.I believe that you are doing everything possible and constructive to help in the family crisis.I know that your caring and strength will be very beneficial to your father and family. But please, also take care of yourself. All the best.
Regards, Excelsior