Aortic Root Aneurysm

This blog is on hiatus, owing to my being diagnosed with an aortic root aneurysm.

The echocardiogram given to me by my cardiologist Dr. Kelemen — actually, by his technician, Eileen — showed up an enlarged aortic root, where the aorta joins the left ventricle of the heart. The normal diameter is roughly 3.7 cm. Mine is 6.3 cm.

My general practitioner Dr. Moore has referred me to a cardiac surgeon who specializes in such aneurysms, Dr. Laschinger. My appointment with him is on Oct. 18.

For now, Dr. Moore doesn't want me to do any more than casual walking at 3 mph.

Dr. Moore thinks I've probably had the aneurysm for at least a year, if not longer, and that it's associated with some predisposition toward problems with connective tissue such as that found in the aorta. Aortic aneurysms are typical with Marfan's Syndrome, a connective-tissue disorder. Dr. Moore doesn't think I look like I have that ... Abraham Lincoln probably had it, and it produces some extremely tall, extremely gangly specimens.

It is not clear whether my aneurysm has anything at all to do with my premature atrial contractions (probably not) or my seemingly high heart rates while exercising (again, most likely not).

Dr. Moore thinks Dr. Laschinger will almost certainly want to operate to repair the aneurysm. So it'll be awhile before I expect to "run for fun" again.