avr with aneurysm and ppm

[ricky485]

it was discovered 10 weeks ago that i had a aneurysm on my ascending aorta 6.4 with a bicuspid aorta vavle.  i had surgery 7 weeks ago st jude aorta valve dacron graft for ascending aorta.  Four days after surgery i need a pacemaker due to the surgery.  My question is there any long term risk or dangers of this that i should look out for.  I take amiodarone (200mg) for a-fib that i developed after pacemaker surgery and celexa 20mg, zocor 20 mg. norvasc 5mg. coumadin 7.5mg m & w 5 mg. the other days of the week.  I started rehab tues. and blood preasure went up during exercise 190/83, but went back down to 150/80 afterward.  St jude valve is very loud most of the time. pulse runs around 80.

[ricky485]

isn't the norvasc (5mg) enough to control his blood preasure if it keeps it in a low enough range?

[Douglas Bogart, MD]

Your blood pressure needs to be well controlled and you should be on a BETA-BLOCKER with high BP and an aortic aneurysm.  Generally amiodarone is only given short term and I would discuss the med changes with the cardiologist.