Aortic root aneurysm size in Tall person

[paulbb]

Hello  ,

I'm a 51 year old male .
About a year ago I had some Atrial Fibrillation for the first time wich was easily treated with some medication . This was probably caused by over fatigue ( sleepless nights , work etc ) and some cold medication .
After this happened I went to see a cardiologist to check everthing .
My diastolic tension was a bit high during a 24h measurement so I got some zanidip to treat this .
I was also diagnosed with osas , So I've been sleeping with a CPAP for almost a year now and it seems to work fine
I am a very tall person , I'm about 6 ft 7 inch ( 205cm) tall and my weight is about 295 pounds .I don't seem to qualify for Marfan syndrome according to de doctor.
The cardiologist measured my Aortic root at 5.1cm about  9months ago and remeasured it 6months later and it was still the same .
Because of my size I fall out of normal statistic values so he send me to an aortic surgeon to have a second opinion . 6 month ago on his  echo it was about 5.2 cm and and last week it was still 5.2 cm . With a more accurate CT scan they measured 5.3 cm .
The surgeon told me I should think about having surgery to prevent the risk of dissection in the near future .( valve sparing ). My aortic valve is tricuspid and there is some micro leak which my cardiologist said it was not at all alarming.
How urgent is surgery in my case ? All the other functions of my heart seem to be quite healty . I have never smoked in my life and alcohol use was almost zero . Eating habits have been quite healthy just some overweight that happened over the years.( too much pasta !) .
What are my risks at this moment ? Should I go for it soon or do I better get a second opinion .
Any other tall persons have a similar experience ?

Thanks ,
Paul

[paulbb]

Dear Dr Kokil Mathur ,

Thank you for the advice . So from what I understand it should be ok for me to wait another 6 months as long as the aortic root aneurysm stays the same diameter . They told me to keep the bloodpressure under control and avoid certain fysical activity .
Is this type of surgery ( david ) quite safe and succesfull ? My general health is quite ok , and I never had surgery before ( exept my tonsils when I was 7 ) .
Paul

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi Paul!
Yes, aortic root diameters are higher in men and in those who are tall and have large body surface area. However, aortic root diameter of 5 cm and more increase the risk of dissection. This along with leaks and increased blood flow further increases the risk of dissection. So, it is better to opt for surgery as a reading of 5.5 cm or more can be really dangerous. Surgery is recommended well before critical levels of 6 cm are reached. So, please consult your doctor and act as the doctor’s advice. Take care!

The medical advice given should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a doctor who can examine you. The advice may not be completely correct for you as the doctor cannot examine you and does not know your complete medical history. Hence this reply to your post should only be considered as a guiding line and you must consult your doctor at the earliest for your medical problem.