Ascending aortic aneurysm

[pisces46]

I have an ascending aortic aneurysm,  5.0 cm, asymtomatic. What are the symtoms that might appear as it gets larger other than those related to dissection or rupture.
    Pisces 46

[skydnsr]

You can't depend on symptoms to monitor the size of it, if that's what you're thinking.  The only symptoms that you can have at all are very bad ones, because the appearance of any symptoms will be a sign that dissection or rupture could happen at any time.  Dissection or rupture could happen at 5.0 and without any warning symptoms at all, for that matter.  Some surgeons would go ahead and repair it now, depending on your individual circumstances.  The aneurysm needs to be monitored by CT or MRI at least once a year and possibly more frequently, again depending on your individual circumstances.  You need to have in mind where you are going to go to have it repaired in a hurry, in case it does become symptomatic or in case the next imaging shows a rapid (more than 2mm per year) increase in size.  Now, having said all that, the most common symptom is pain.  Thoracic aortic aneurysms can also cause difficulty in swallowing and I think maybe cough, but those symptoms are uncommon and are generally limited to arch aneurysms.  I can't think of any other symptoms.  You want to have it repaired before it starts causing symptoms, if at all possible.  Asymptomatic is good.  Any symptoms are bad, and the symptoms don't let you know in advance that they're planning to show up.  So there needs to be a good plan that you are comfortable with, and you need to have a surgeon, preferably who you have already met, that you are comfortable with.  That is my feedback as the survivor or a root/ascending aneurysm that was inadequately repaired the first time and had to be re-operated on.  I had chest pain prior to both operations that the doctors would never say was due to the aneurysm, but it was unexplained otherwise, and it was instantly gone when I woke up from surgery.  I feel very lucky to be alive.

[skydnsr]

Oh, and I've also heard of hoarseness, but that's also uncommon and usually associated only with arch aneurysms.

[pisces46]

Thanks for the info. I live in Hawaii & currently am in the Wash, DC, area visiting family. I decided to seek a regional medical center/med school that has a large and high caliber cardio/vascular program for a consultation & possible preemptive surgery. And that is close to family as I have no immediate family in Hawaii.  Prior to traveling I made an appointment with Johns Hopkins Med.Ctr in Baltimore,Md; went to my appointment a few days ago and was very impressed both with the surgeon and the medical center. He seemed to concur with my current surgeon's monitoring of my aneurysm and told me he would consult with his department about doing elective surgery rather than waiting & would call me.Well, he did call me the next day & offered to do the surgery now. I was never so glad & surprised to receive a phone call as that one! My visit of a few weeks to the east coast is now going to be several months. And I have to say that the idea or recommendation from one of the docs on MedHelp put me on the path of having my surgery at a regional med ctr with a high caliber/volume surgical department. I am immensely appreciative of the expertise and personal experiences I found on Medhelp.     Pisces46

[skydnsr]

I'm happy for you.  Keep us posted, if you feel so moved.  You are going to have better care for your aneurysm than I had for mine the first time around.  It's so good that you have family in a place where there is expert care.