Aortic enlargement

[VSW]

My72 yr old female friend was scheduled for hip replacement surgery when they noted an aortic valve murmur. Futher tests reveal an elargement of the aortic arch of 5.5cm. They have determined that the hip replacement surgery can be done first, rehab from hip and then the aortic repair.  She has no symptoms other than being tired.  This could just be from the pain and effort that goes along with her hip.

Would you recommend another opinion before going through with the aortic repair or is this sigificant enough for surgery as soon as her condition allows?

[kenkeith]

Given these statistics it is recommended that asymptomatic ascending aortic aneurysms be resected at a size of 5.0-5.5 cm.  If severe aortic insufficiency is present in the setting of a bicuspid valve, the ascending aorta should be resected when it is 4.5 cm in diameter. Descending thoracic and AORTIC ARCH ANEURYSM  typically are resected when they exceed 6.0 cm in diameter.  Symptomatic aneurysms should be resected regardless of size.  

Generally, an aortic aneursym grows about 0.5 to 1.0 cm in 6-12 months if at all.  It would be a surgical decision based on factors involved.  Considering a from dissection (rupture) can be very serious and the larger the aneurysm the greater the risk!