Advice Please

Hello,
I have been reading your comments in your forum.  
I have, in the last couple of weeks been informed that i have an enlarged ascending aorta (4.6mm).  I have previously had my aortic valve replaced with a pigs valve.  I have been advised that they will want to replace it by 6.0mm.  
I am a lil concerned as If i am not mistaken, readers comments indicate that they have had theirs replaced a 5.0mm.
I am 26 years old and my surgeon's registrar has advised me that if i have intentions of having any more children, i should do it now.  This is because they want to replace my aortic valve again, with a mechanical one when they repair my ascending aorta.
Does this make sense or have I got this wrong.  Should they repairing the ascending aorta before 6.0mm.
I am currently trying to get pregnant and don't want to do so if this is going to put me or my soon to be baby at risk.
Advice would be greatly appreciated!


This discussion is related to Enlarged Aorta.

[Shelster56]

Hi,

I have an ascending aortic aneurysm of 4.5 cm and from everything I've read you are right -  it is normal to do surgery when the aneurysm measures between 5 and 5.5 cm. If you are short then surgery is sometimes suggested even before 5.0. I'm certainly not a doctor but I'd be concerned about letting the aneurysm get to 6.0 before repairing it.

At your age I would certainly recommend a mechanical valve so that you can avoid another operation for hopefully many, many years. I had a mechanical valve put in and an aneurysm repaired at the same time and it went fine.

However, once you have a mechanical valve you will have to take coumadin to keep your blood from clotting - and women on coumadin are advised NOT to get pregnant.

Hope this helps.

Good luck!

[SBF]

Wow, the coumadin information... what a useful thing to speak truthfully about to another woman (woops, am I being sexist?), any surgeon... especially male probably wouldn't "think" that way and allow Shelster to make up her own (way too young to give up on children) mind.  I really appreciate the kindness that seems to come so naturally while sharing with other people rowing similar boats on this forum Thingy...  
THANK YOU! SBF

[BenjaminJC]

I was 38 years old and in perfect health when I was diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm.  I tried everything possible to avoid the surgery and as a result I nearly gambled with death.  I'll tell you all about it, and answer your questions on the internet's best new site for Aortic information:  www.************.com