Hi guys, so here goes. Back at the start of January I went to A&E feeling light headed with a bit of chest and back pain. Long story short they did a CT angiogram with contrast and found I had an ectatic (mildly dilated) ascending aorta at 37mm. Since I've still been suffering with chest and predominantly upper back pain, I've been back to A&E since. So moving forward to the 9th of february they decided to admit me and keep me in hospital and do an echocardiogram of the heart and aorta. The echocardiogram showed that the heart, valves and coronary arteries were all fine and working ok. The ascending aorta was this time measured at 37.2mm. Four hours after the echocardiogram I had a 'gated' CT coronary angiogram with contrast and that final scan measured my ascending aorta at 35mm. The cardiologist I spoke to said he didn't think my chest and back pains were cardiac related or related to my ascending aorta. He said the pains could be musculoskeletal, although I've seen a physio at the GP surgery and he just recommended doing some stretches. Basically, what I need help with is, which scan out of the three should I be counting on here for an accurate reading and measurement of my ascending aorta? The first CT scan, the echocardiogram or the last 'gated' CT coronary angiogram? Can anyone give me any advice on this?
In need of ascending aorta advice. - British Heart Fou...
In need of ascending aorta advice.
Hi Sonny , I've had a similar diagnosis in January, acending aortic dilation at 37mm from a echocardiogram, I'm awaiting a CT scan to confirm. It came out of the blue, I was running 5 days a week prior, Also have aortic regurgitation and slightly dilated atrium.Im 61. The specialist says it's all borderline stuff and I'm in the system now so I'll be monitored. It's scary when you have this diagnosis, avoid doctor Google and listen to the experts.
Hi there Cplwor👋It seems to me that this is becoming a fairly common thing. Do you get any pains or aching in your back or in your chest at all since your dilation was discovered? I think for your age (at 61), a diameter of 37mm is normal for the ascending aorta 👍
The differences are very marginal aren’t they? Mine was 5.2 cm when found with a bicuspid aortic valve and mild regurgitation. The advice I was given was that unless the dilation was growing very quickly then it would not normally cause pain ( they didn’t say this but of course if someone’s aorta was dissecting there would be significant pain.) unless you have a syndrome I would imagine that the advice will be watchful waiting .
Mine was found out of the blue 4.3, same advice watchful waiting - no pain just breathless walking up stairs too quickly. Lots of things cause pain and could easily be muscular or psychosomatic (the brain can play horrid tricks on us) … I am taking the approach of getting on with life while actively minimising the risks of making it rapidly worse.. eating as as healthily as possible, gentle exercise, monitoring blood pressure etc. It is easy to disappear down a worm hole (I did to start with). Your in the system which is the main thing and the dilation is a long way off critical at the moment so Hope you can relax and be positive. Good luck
Hi Rob. Thanks for the feedback it's appreciated 👍🏻
Hi Sonny,
Without being a medical expert, I don't think many on this forum will be able to advise which scan is more accurate, but what I can say is that a dilated aorta of 37.2mm is really nothing to be worried about at this stage and I think that your Cardiologist is probably correct in saying that it is unlikely that your current symptoms are heart related.
I have an ascending aorta which currently measures 5.1cm and as such I'm in the 'Watchful Waiting' club, which means an annual scan. The point of intervention comes at 5.5cm so you have some way to go.
Easy to say, but try not to worry as anxiety will not help. Try and stick to a healthy diet, reduce your alcohol intake (if you do that is) and take on moderate exercise like walking and swimming.
Since I adopted the above lifestyle changes I've lost 3 stone, my average blood pressure is 120/70 without any meds and my resting heart rate is 55.
Good luck!
Hi Tony 👋 Thanks for the feedback. Just out of interest, do you get any chest or back pains with your dilated aorta?
When I first started swimming i use to get a slight dull pain in my chest but after a few weeks and weight loss / getting fitter I don't seem to get it anymore.
I was weight training in the gym before this was discovered. I've stopped training now. I don't want to raise my blood pressure in the gym and stress the aorta needlessly. I take daily walks to keep my cardio going. My mother died of a ruptured ascending aorta and I was with her when she died so I know what things can eventually look like with this disease. That's why I'm especially nervous about what's potentially going on inside me. My mum had her ascending aorta operated on when it was discovered at 9cm and the operation gave her another 5 years of life. Unfortunately her aorta was diseased from top to bottom and continued to grow to the point that it finally outgrew the graft, so eventually ruptured.
Just one thing to note: the intervention size is adjusted well downwards if you happen to have one of the connective tissue disorders (Marfan, Ehlers-Danlos, Loeys-Dietz, etc.).
Yes. My consultant carried out some basic tests and put me forward to have blood genetically tested for the above tissue disorders. Although there were no obvious signs (i.e. I don't have a bendy finger etc) she felt that I needed to be tested as it is unusual for someone my age (59) to already be at 5.1cm.
My blood was taken 2 months ago and I'm still waiting. Apparently it can take up to 6 months for the results.
Hi Sonny, I've recently found that I have a 4cm aneurysm, bicuspid valve and mild stenosis/regurgitation. The cardiologist basically said see me in 18 months. I totally understand your desire to fully and accurately understand what you've been told, what I would take from it is that your various measurements are similar which is reassuring. Ive determined to look after myself and use websites such as bhf to understand what symptoms to look out for. I'm losing weight (not that I was too bad), eating better, walking a lot and eating blueberries every day (good for bp). It's hard to put news in perspective, but ultimately I'm very glad I know, there is treatment when I need it and I am 'in the system' for monitoring 🙂
Hi Stringthing 👋 Thanks for the feedback, it's really appreciated.
Well I know it's not a competition but mine was 6.6 and they still said they was time to wait for the op.So I wouldn't worry too much about the accuracy of the readings you had, but we are all different.
As for chest pains etc, I still get them now and again but just try to ignore them as I think for me it's from the op......
Hi, Still_Breathing 👋 Did you have back pain as well and what size was it when it was discovered?
I don't remember any back pain at diagnosis, just after the op ....
It was 6.6 on discovery 😄
How long ago was your op and how you feeling now?
I'm 3.5 years in, walking every day, cycling when the weather is OK and climbing the wainwrights fells in the lake district. So all good overall.
Ah fair play to you. Sounds like things are going well. So I'm guessing they replaced your ascending aorta with a graft?
Recent Pericarditis diagnosis 
Need help and advise about aneurysm of ascending aorta.
Bicuspid aortic valve and enlarged ascending aorta. 
