84 year old mom needs surgery

[chachari]

My mom who is 84 needs surgery to remove an anerism on her stomach.  When she went for her pre op testing they discover that she has an enlarge heart.  What are her risk factors to have the surgery

[kenkeith]

The surgical risk for complications are increased with an enlarged heart.  An enlarged heart, depending on the severity, can impair the systole function (pumping contractions) and that can be associated with a dilated left ventricle.  And/or the enlargement can be thickening of the heart's walls.  This condition would restrict the filling phase by wall rigidity and reduced filling capacity.  

The degree of risk can be determined by an echocardiogram by calculating the amount (percentage) of filling capacity of oxygenated blood pumped into circulation during the systole phase. If the percentage is less than 29%, a surgical operation is at a high risk and a surgeon may not recommend an operation as the risk may exceed the benefit.

Or the estimated dimensions of the heart may be insignificant, and your mom is relatively good health and the risk is minimal.