New Aortic Aneurysm

[Ricky_]

Hi

I have just been diagnosed with a small 3.5cm aortic aneurysm by the hospital. However on visiting the GP today to discuss these results, he said that the hospital have not ask for any follow ups or any further treatments and I’ve just to get on with life.

I am a 61yo male, not quite overweight, but with high BP and I already have a stent in my left descending artery.

Is this normal procedure. Any comments would be grateful.

ricky

[Lowerfield_no_more]

You have three options as far as I can see.

1. You accept the opinion of the health professionals and, as suggested, you get on with your life.

2. You could talk to the BHF Heart Helpline nurse who should be able to give you a professional opinion on your circumstances.

3. You ask for a second opinion, which you are entitled to do, but you are not guaranteed you will get one. You need to discuss this with your GP, and if he/she agrees you will be onward referred again and you may have to go through the evaluation process again from the start, perhaps at another hospital, and the second opinion in the end may well be the same as the first.

[Ricky_ in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Thanks lowerfield_no_more

The GP was good and explained things but seemed happy. So I think your option 2 is the way ahead with this. Thanks for your reply.

[JulianM]

For an abdominal aortic aneurysm (which I am guessing this is) this is a long way off any case for surgery; talking to your doctor about blood pressure treatment and other things you might do to get better control over it would strike me as the most useful thing to focus on. All the best!

[Happyrosie]

along with what’s been said. On the NHS website under their alphabetical list of conditions there’s a helpful article. Your aneurysm is “small” so all you need do is have a look at your diet and exercise.

[Ricky_]

Thanks for the heads up on the NHS site, I will look that up.

[Cat04]

Uncertain where your aneurysm is in the aorta and my only experience is an ascending aorta aneurysm which only requires surical intervention when it reaches 5cm (in the context of a bicuspid aortic valve, 5.5 cm without BAV)

If I were you I would be asking for appropriate surveillance (repeat scans ? annually) to monitor it's progress.

[JulianM in reply to Cat04]

I have an enlarged ascending aorta, and it took me a while to get my head around the idea that ascending aneurysms and abdominal aneurysms are very different conditions, further split as you suggest between bicuspid valve disease and those where the aortic valve is trileaflet and structurally normal (like mine). I do think Ricky has an abdominal aneurysm, because if his ascending aorta were at 3.5 cm it would still be inside the normal size range. The normal size range for the abdominal aorta is quite a bit smaller.

The latest guidelines have shifted towards 5.0 cm for ascending aneurysms and don't give a lower surgical threshold for bicuspid valve disease (except where surgery is needed for the valve). However, there is more solid evidence that risk escalates after 5.5 cm, and there's one clinical trial ongoing in Canada and the USA (Titan: SvS) which might conceivably shift people's ideas back towards waiting till then.

Rapid growth (more than 5mm in one year, or 3mm in two successive years) and some genetic conditions (Loeys-Dietz) can also take ascending aortic surgery thresholds below 5.0.

[Ricky_ in reply to Cat04]

Hi, thanks for your comments. Unfortunately I forgot to ask exactly where this aneurysm is, so I speak with the GP angin this coming Tuesday and will find out then.

[2islandboy]

I was diagnosed three years ago with an ascending aorta aneurysm. It has remained stable at 4.3 cm. I did the three things that will help prevent it from getting any larger: weight loss, BP meds and exercise. You can help keep your aneurysm from getting any larger.

[Ricky_ in reply to 2islandboy]

Hi, thanks for your comments. I am not hugely overweight but certainly will try to lose up to 1 stone, which won’t make me waste away. My BP is treated with the 3 medications, but at times still tends to go up when it feels like it. I’ve never smoked and although I work in a distillery, I don’t drink, arthritis is keeping me from doing too much on the fitness front, but I do keep at it.

[Cliff_G]

Ricky_, is the aneurysm in your belly or chest? They are different animals.

[Ricky_ in reply to Cliff_G]

hi

Had a chat with the GP today, it is in my chest so a Thoracic aneurysm quite high up.

Again he said the cardiac unit are not worried about this, at this time.

[Cliff_G in reply to Ricky_]

Thanks.

[Ricky_]

Hi, thanks for getting back to me. Unfortunately I forgot to ask and the GP never told me. But I will ask him on Tuesday, and will let you know.

[Nicky678]

Hi Ricky I have a small anyrsm aortic My understanding is that sometimes they scan /monitor yearly or every 2 years it depends on what they find.

But I would think your consultant would make that decision

Maybe go and see your gp again and ask more about follow up scans. Ask as many questions as you need so that you understand your situation

Take care x

[Ricky_ in reply to Nicky678]

Hi, thanks for that. Everyone on the site have been very good and sending reassuring messages of understanding .

I will ask the GP about further follow ups when I speak to him on Tuesday.

Thank you

[Vindicatrix]

I'm not an expert, Ricky, but I always thought that those, however small should be treated urgently. If it were I, I would be getting a 2nd opinion, ASAP, for peace of mind.

Don't worry about upsetting the Medics, if they are good, they won't mind, if they are bad, always go for 2nd opinions.

As long as you are 'Politely Assertive and Civil,' i don't see a problem,

All the very best to you. Ron