Thoracic aorta aneurysm

[jcjsnooper]

Dear Sirs,
I am a 40 yr. old male. In 1976 I underwent a procedure call coarctation of the aorta. In 2004 I had a bicuspid valve replacement along with an aortaplasty around the aortic arch. A recent ct shows that there is an aortic aneurysm at the aortic arch which measures 4.8. My cardiologist and surgeon feel that right now surgery is not recommended, due to the fact that the tissue valve is still working great and that because of the surgery in 2004 there is enough scar tissue that fear of the aneurysm bursting is minimal. Needless to say I am living with this everyday. Is this a situation that I can wait on surgery or is a third opinion warranted? Thank you in advance for your suggestion. Jeff

[kenkeith]

The cause for concern with an aortic aneurism is a bulge of the anatomical lining resulting in a thinner than normal wall that could rupture (aortic dissection).  Scar  is fiberotic tissue that increases wall strength and probably doesn't lend itself to easy dissection and no need for concern.