Abdominal aortic aneurysm-experience?UPDATE post 17, surgery went well

[rainy~daze]

My FIL is going for surgery tomorrow for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. He had triple bypass last year and has not quit smoking or done anything to improve his health in the interim.
The family is super scared he won't make it through the surgery. He has high blood pressure, been smoking 2 packs a day (or more) for 40+ years.
The aneurysm has grown quite a bit since last year, which was when it was originally found. He hadn't been to the dr in over 20 years. And his heart is very weak.
Has anyone had any experience with this type of surgery, with or without his other complications? Any insight would help to have an idea of what he is facing.

 

[golfgal]

Probably not what you want to hear but both of my step-grandparents died of this. My step-Grandma died unexpectedly in her sleep and exactly one year later my step-Grandpa died after a few months in and out of the hospital after they discovered his and did surgery. He never fully recovered from the surgery and we think a lot of that had to do with losing Grandma.

 

[allicat]

A story with a happy ending for you! My father had one 12 years ago. They found it by accident and it was so large that our community hospital wouldnt even be equipped to deal with his particular situation. I quickly researched the best university hospital and the best surgeon and he was admitted immediately. I believe it was an 8 hour operation and it was a long wait. Long story short, he was in ICU initially, recovered quite well, today goes for periodic checkups and the only thing he has left to remind him of that horrible time is a scar. It will take a good 6 months plus for your FIl to feel himself again but in time he will.
Best of luck to your family!
edited to add-they did every test imaginable before surgery, so to my knowledge, if they didnt think your fil's heart could stand it, they wouldnt attempt it. Agree with the post below me that regulating blood pressure during the surgery is a concern. It was a difficulty for my father but the anesthesiologist was superb!

 

[beavismom]

My Dad had one over 30 years ago, and had to have it repaired about 20 years later. He was in decent health although he had already had bypass surgery at that point and he was still a smoker. I would probably be more concerned about the blood pressure. That said, my Dad survived both the surgeries, but said the recovery from them was some of the worst he had ever felt. Good wishes for your FIL and take a lot of stuff to occupy your time because it takes a while.

 

[mkymouse1928]

My husband's grandfather had one. He opted not to have the surgery because of the risks involved so I cannot offer you any advice there, but please know that your fil will be in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[DawnCt1]

The good news is, they found it. Its intact, not leaking and while it is a big surgery, his chances of recovery are good while he is asymptomatic. Good luck to him and your family! Its a big surgery, but I am sure he will be fine.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

This is what ultimately ended up being the death of my grandpa last year, but his was leaking when they took him into emergency surgery, and he had many other complications and contributing factors- blood pressure, smoking, cancer, urinary catheter, retained fluid, etc, etc. We didn't have high hopes when they took him in. The surgeon said the tissue surrounding it was so weak and damaged that it couldn't hold the repair sutures. I know it's not the outcome you were hoping to hear, but he had been living in pain for several years and it was actually a relief for me to see him after he died looking calm. It had been many years since I had seen him without his face twinged in pain. It was still very hard to lose him, but at least he wasn't suffering anymore. I will hope for the best outcome for your FIL.

 

[powellrj]

My father had one for years that they kept watching because they didn't want to do surgery because of his poor health. He also had an aortic dissection almost 25 years ago, and has had repair surgery several time since then.

They did the surgery 2 years ago and he did really well and was home from the hospital in less than 2 weeks. I will say it took him an entire summer to recover, but he is also in his mid 70's and has other health issues.

 

[lsyorke]

DF had a AAA 10 years ago and wasn't a candidate for "traditional" repair. He had a stenting procedure that was much less invasive and did amazingly well. Laproscopic procedure that required only 2 days in the hospital.
He would never had survived the major surgery of the traditional method, but did live for 15 years after this stenting procedure.

 

[dizzana]

My MIL was diagnosed with this and it was operable for her....she would have been fine. Unfortunately for her she was such a heavy smoker (3-4 packs a day) that she made the decision that she didn't want to quit to have the surgery. Since she didn't quit smoking they would not do the surgery....

 

[rottiemom]

edited to add-they did every test imaginable before surgery, so to my knowledge, if they didnt think your fil's heart could stand it, they wouldnt attempt it.

The good news is, they found it. Its intact, not leaking and while it is a big surgery, his chances of recovery are good while he is asymptomatic. Good luck to him and your family! Its a big surgery, but I am sure he will be fine.

Agree wholeheartedly with the PPs. Here's another "good" ending for you. My FIL had this surgery 3 years ago. The aneurism was discovered after he had been hospitalized for a minor stroke. It was HUGE and visible externally but "somehow" his regular, semi retired Dr never noticed it . Anyway, even with it being as big as it was they couldn't do the surgery until his minor brain bleeds were regulated. Finally, after about 4 months of watching him closely they did the surgery & everything went smoothly. He has been fine since then.

FWIW my FIL was a heavy smoker for pretty much his entire life but had quit a few years prior tp all of this.

I'll be thinking about you today. I remember what that day at the hospital felt like...

 

[live4christp1]

The good thing is they have found it before it ruptured. My dad had one in 1997 when this type surgery (vascular) was very new in our area. His was not found until it started leaking and then ruptured in the ER (dad's one of those who wouldn't go for annual exams). Fortunately the top vascular surgeon in the area was in his office at the hospital when the blow out happened in the ER (2 -1/2 inches of aorta) and they were able to repair it. My dad will be 80 years old next year and is talking about going on an Alaskan cruise. We talked to many families in the hospital waiting room (he was in ICU and then the hospital for over a month) who had family having the procedure you are referring to. At the time of my dad's rupture he ended up being one of only 3 who had survived the actual rupture/repair. As I understand it the success rate for the repair before rupture is much higher now.

Please know that you FIL and family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Wanted to add......my dad was a heavy smoker as well - 2 1/2 packs a day since he was 13. After the aorta rupture he never wanted a cigerette again.

His doctors now say that he has those varices all over his arteries that could potentially rupture.....they have repaired a few but there are just too many to do them all. At first that worried me a lot but seeing my dad, live life to it's fullest and don't take any days for granted........none of us are promised a tomorrow, I've come to terms with it and just enjoy each day that we have him here.

 

[SkyGirl]

My father had this many, many years ago and did great! Stayed in wonderful health for a very long time.

Good luck!!!

 

[WDWBarb]

Thought I'd share another success story - DH's best friend survived this surgery a few years ago. He was not in the best of health (heavy smoker, too) but did just fine. He's doing extremely well today and is very grateful that the docs found it when they did.

Hope your FIL does well...

 

[SaraJayne]

An AAA is what killed my FIL. But his was undiagnosed and it ruptured. Once that happened, there was really no hope.

 

[momof1princess]

thank goodness your FIL's AAA was found in time. my uncle was not so fortunate. please make sure your DH is checked for this (it's his dad, right?) they run in families. my aunt and mother (uncle's sisters) had to be checked, b/c my grandfather (their dad) had one also. prayers said and good thoughts for your FIL.

 

[rainy~daze]

Thank you all for the well wishes---
He had his surgery today and it seems so far so good, it has gone well. He was in surgery for approx 4 hours, and is in ICU for the next 24 for observation.

He is in quite a bit of pain and he was confused about all the stuff they had him hooked up to and why, so DH and his sister brought the nurse in to explain everything to him, and he felt better knowing some of that.

They did say this will, unfortunately, be quite a painful recovery process for him. Good news is we only live 10 minutes from him, so we can help him out.

 

[Serena]

I'm glad to hear that things are going well.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

Such a relief! And you live 10 minutes away. That's going to work out great for his recuperation.

 

[rottiemom]

I'm so glad that everything went well . I hope that his recovery is as easy as possible.

momof1princess is right- this is hereditary. Make sure that your husband & any siblings get checked out.