aortic anurism - Heart Disorders Message Board

Debz · 10-13-2005, 10:57 PM

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

Tiina · 10-14-2005, 05:56 AM

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

Lenin · 10-14-2005, 07:24 AM

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.

started04 · 10-14-2005, 09:50 AM

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.

Debz · 10-14-2005, 08:07 PM

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