One Of The Deadliest Conditions: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

My dad had a ruptured aneurysm in his brain in which he did not survive. And my brother had an aortic aneurysm which he had checked on a regular basis. No rupture or surgery. Unfortunately he passed from a major stroke.

I know I have an AAA. When I have severe back pain I go to emergency, and triage treats me like I am a hypochondriac, and it is at least four hours before an actual doctor sees me, they do not monitor me at all during that time. I think there needs to be an emergency room protocol for patients with known AAA - our hospital certainly does not have one. My partner now comes in with me, just in case it is a rupture, so I won't die alone. Not big enough for surgery yet, but grows rapidly from time to time, so who knows!

As many of you who have shared your experiences with AAA. 2017 my Wife had an MRI performed to evaluate the why of her back pain and her AAA as well as aneurysm's in both of her iliac arteries. There were no vascular surgeons in our area who wanted to or felt qualified to perform the necessary surgery so she was sent to Harbor View Hospital in Seattle where we met Dr. Benjamin Starns. We were told he was the only surgeon at that time who was authorized by the manufacturer of the stint to make alterations to the stint. Dr. Starns explained to us with video and drawings how he would perform this very delicate surgery. The surgery once Dr. Starns commenced took only 20 minutes. That was 2017, she has had annual scans to review the status of the stints. April 2024, eight years after the procedure it is discovered the portion of the stint within her aorta ids weeping. She is 81 and in otherwise in poor health. We are advised by the vascular surgeon at our hospital due to the condition of my Wife surgery to perform a repair of that stint is ill advised. She will pass away soon and there's nothing we can do to avoid it. Yes, she is 81 and has had a full life until the first stroke in 2016, another stroke 2020, both hips replaced and a compound fracture of her right arm fixed, due to falls. We are making final days preparations but we do very much appreciate the eight years Dr. Starns gave us. If you learn you have an AAA insist that you are granted the surgery by a competent vascular surgeon. Remember you will have a device installed in your body that may at some point fail. Medicine is NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE. The people who are willing to do these very delicate procedures are gifted, exceptional and caring human beings. GOD is with them guiding their hands as they do these surgerys. When our work on Earth is done GOD will allow us come home.

Someone I used to work with died on the operating table while the surgeons where trying to do the repair surgery.

What about all of us with elastin problems … we have co morbs like adhd, lipedema, pots,

I found out last year I have Marfan syndrome and a mild dilation of the Aortic root. My dad passed away from an aortic dissection in 2002 he was 44 years old. We didn’t know anything about Marfan nor did he and for so many years I took it upon myself to reaserch what could have caused this and after trying to convince my doctors to send me for a genetic test I found out. My aortic root is at 3.9 they say anything 4.5cm and up they start talking about surgery. It’s a ticking time bomb.

Just discovered that this runs in my family. Yet another reason to stop smoking 😢

My father had an AAA surgery when he was 82 years old. He survived surgery, it was an slow recovery.

They do a good job of explaining aortic aneurysm but maybe are a bit to jovial about all this - easy if you've never had an aortic aneurysm. I get that surgeons need some levity when they are involved in life and death situations but usually is not 'presented' to patients as a 'funny' thing who are in a very serious and upsetting situation. So I'd advise to tell your jokes in private and not to people who are desperately ill . . .

Hi doctors. In 2021 I was 32 weeks pregnant and with Covid and woke up with severe back pain. Rushed to the hospital, told me I have dissection from aorta all the way to my hip. Put me under, did Csection, closed me, opend my chest, replaced my valves and fixed my ruptured aorta. 13 hours surgery, 3 days induced coma and month in hospital after. ❤

I have brain aneurysms didn't know I had it went to the doctor sent me for MRA I'm found out I had two aneurysms I had a stent put in and I have to go for an MRA every year to make sure it doesn't get any bigger

At the time I was 67 years old. September of 2023. I felt a very sharp pain in my lower left side. I couldn't stand the pain either laying down, setting or standing. About 15 minutes after first feeling the pain I called 911. EMT's arrived about 10 minutes later. I walked out of my house; across my deck and down 4 steps. Laid down on the cart at the bottom of the steps and passed out. 4 days later I wake up in another town about 70 miles away. The EMT's took me to a hospital 15 minutes from my home but was life flighted to the other hospital. So I was later told. My aneurysm had ruptured. After 6 days I was taken to a rehab clinic and spent 4 months learning to walk, set up, everything all over. Here it is 7 months later and still in out patient rehab. I was opened up from right below my sternum to below my belt line. But I did live to tell my story. To anyone that has survived I wish you well. And those to whom lost someone my deepest condolences. Life can be cut short at any moment. Live ever day as if it is your last.......

This topic is not a laughing matter... especially when you're loved one is suffering from AAA 😡👎

Never grunt/push to take a poop. Let it be a relaxed movement. Prunes, Olive Oil, Fish Oil, Collagen (all types) .. help natural release.

I know I do not have and aneurysm, but I am 61, with a very mild dilation of aorta at the root of 3.8 cm. After adjusting for my sex, height, weight, age and body mass, I was told I am simply at the "outer limits of normal". This was spotted on a CT scan I did to check my calcium score (which is 0!) back in January 2017 and we have been following with echo every 3 years. The aorta size has been stable and not grown for 7 1/2 years now and was told most likely should never be a concern. I dont smoke, drink and eat healthy and normal blood pressure and excellent blood work. Otherwise, my echos are always totally normal.

My dad had this in 2015 survived and just last week he got an infection in where the graph was done and had to go through the surgery again. Today is day 1 after surgery…

This two doctors kill you on a table while laughing in your face and engaging in sex with Chan. I would come close anywhere to Canada for as long I know about these two. EVIL

A CT Scan revealed that I have this condition, along with a cyst on my pancreas.

Is the open surgery procedure same graph with a balloon

This being a deadly condition I don't find your humor necessary.

I am a 5'1 women. I weigh 103 lbs.
I am 63 years old.
I have never done drugs, not even as a teenager.
Though I do smoke.
I don't have high blood pressure.
I don't lift weights.
2 weeks and 2 days ago, I was sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee while talking to my son.
All of a sudden, I felt the most excruciating pain in my chest and between my shoulder blades. My son called the ambulance. I thought that I was having a heart attack. At this time I had never heard of this.
I was diagnosed with an acute aortic dissection with an Intramural hematoma, type B. My life changed forever at that very moment!
I am being treated with beta blockers and will be seen in 6 weeks. At that time they will decide if I need surgery or not.
I am still in pain. Mainly in my upper back. I feel pulling around my heart and in my side with an aching in my arm! This pain is nothing compared to the initial pain!
My biggest problem is the fear! I am afraid! This scares the hell out of me!
In my uneducated mind I think, do the surgery and fix it, but it's not that easy. The surgery is dangerous and it doesn't mean that this is over!
All of this is challenging my trust and belief in Jesus! I am Catholic with a strong belief that Jesus will see me through this, no matter how it turns out.
Jesus, I trust in You!
Please, I beg of you, pray for me! 🙏 Thank You!

What does a CT scan mean if it says The abdominal aorta is nonaneurysmal

Well, I’m screwed

So they said the less invasive surgery has less risk for complications and death, but that it has more risk for developing more of same problem next to where the stint is. So do they just keep adding more stints? And if you're an athlete can you get back to exercising vigorously again?

It is scary to know that you have such condition , and things can turn to the worst in a matter of minutes , i just pray that , if it happens, don't take to long , ct scanns and ultrasound is how they found the aneurysms. Good luck to anybody who is diagnosed with it

While informative, the woman doctor keeps laughing like she were finding such aa serious topic hilarious. She is downright annoying. Please call her attention to her misplaced laugh. Nothing is funny, lady, except you.

If you go to a good hospital, the mortality for open heart surgery is under 2% and a lot of places under 1%. It may be different if you're in the middle of a dissection but at that point, you're not making choices about whether to do open heart surgery or endovascular. But I'm not entirely buying this contrast between the open heart and the endovascular options. I think if they endovascular really worked that well for everyone, they'd be giving it to everybody.

THIS WAs great

DOCTOR CHAN IS AMAZING

The smoking thing is BS, scientists paid to claim smoking causes ALL and everything medical now. How about sticking to the truth and not the agenda and indoctrination.

This is a fantastic primer on AAA. Thank you all.:)

I had a chronic pain in my 70 year old body, especially the left side of my back. The doctor noticed a 5.2 aneurism and for now they w😊ant me to have an ultrasound every six months.😊

How mich is the cost of aortic aneurysm surgery

Metformine-medicine is protecting for AAA for people with Diabes-2./ Regards Sweden a country wich made the reasurch

The question though is does it count as a ticking bomb in chest if it’s 43-44 mm?

My husband has just been told he has an 8cm adominal aortic aneurysm he does have heart diease he's had heart surgery he has a defiberaltor in and he has an ejection fraction of it was 15 now o think it's 30. So does the ejection fraction has anything to do with it he also has thyroid diease. Should we worry about this their not going to do the sugery until a week from today

My cousin died approximately at 53 years old of an aortic aneurysm. He worked in factory heavy work lifting etc, diabetic 500 pds just lost 100pds... he felt unwell at work headed back home apparently just had time to pull over to side of 401(400) and he died. He was lifetime non-smoker.

My son, in 2024, just diagnosed at 40 ketoacidosis bad reaction to medications so now on insulin... his cholesterol was also out of sight between 30 & 40... his sugar was 30. Is my son, at risk for aortic aneurysm as his high blood pressure & cholesterol was thought to be inherited condition????

AAA, runs Severely, in my Father’s side of my Family! It killed his Father, my Grandfather at the Age 36! My Father died at the Age 62, and the Doctors at John Hopkins told me, “3 Son’s?” I said yes, why? He said 2 of you will have severe heart disease, and out of you 2, one of you, will have it! It ENDED UP with me! They found it down at the point where it splits to the Kidney’s. 2 years later, it was gone. Now, the past 6 months, my Lower Back and behind my bladder, are killing me! I’m the Tallest one also! My Dad’s dissected, and at Hopkins, they went in to do the Surgery, and the minute they cut into in, it dissected from his kidneys, up to his Heart, and Carotid Arteries. He ended up needing 72 pints of blood. I was 46, when they found mine!

My Father smoked 3 packs of Cigarettes a day, for close to 50 years, and his Lungs were absolutely PINK! John Hopkins Doctors were shocked!

My Doctor explained what the pain would be like, when my goes! I’ve never been afraid to die, I told my Parents that, when I was 6! OMG! They flipped out! I’m now almost 63, and I know I’m going to have to have another Ultrasound done, and FAST!

My wife has been diagnosed to have abdominal aortic aneurysm. We are looking for organizations that can assist to 0btain a medical travel assistance because we can't afford the cost of treatment here in Nigeria.
We shall be very grateful if you can help us out.

Worst still , no operating opportunity or facility in Nigeria. We need ur help in all ways possible please. Tnx n expecting ur early response.

Going under in two days, wish me luck!!

I see a lot of trees during this ultrasound 😂🤣😂 thanks for sharing 😊

Why is surgery not performed right away when diagnosed? Why risk it rupturing?

Wow, doc! You look like Barry Gibb!! 🪩

Want to know a deadly situation?
When a woman has an abdominal pregnancy, who lives in an area in the USA with NO DOCTOR who gives a damn because they don’t have time to deal with rare cases!
I have The MRI to prove it, yet the doctors in my area are not educated in this rare condition!
It’s unbelievable how doctors are these days!

Can you talk about pulmonary aneurism

I had a test on 28th August and todsy 10th September i had a call from my doctors saying i have to go see them on 30th September. Im guessing its just to tell me i hsve a problem. If it was critical they would have had me in urgently. Very good video it was informative. Just subscribed now thsnks

I have a 3.2cm AAA. I know Medicare won't pay for it and I can't afford huge bills on a fixed income. I have become comfortable in the fact that I will die when it bursts.

Great informative video, I watched this video after I had a ruptured AAA earlier this year. When they found the AAA during the CT scan, they also found an Aortic Root Aneurysm, i had open heart surgery 8 weeks after the AAA surgery.

Hospital refused to operate on my 84 yr Mom. Not a good candidate. Made me sick that i had to corner her surgeon in the parking lot to see what the Board had decided. She had been washing windows for her friends on the 6th floor, felt pain in her back, insisted we buy her a new mattress....to no avail. Finally got the diagnosis. So sad

Is there a video over thoracic aortic aneurysms in the works? I'm carrying one of those time bombs right now and would love to see what y'all come up with for that one! (Please don't forget to talk about the connective tissue element!) Love your work! Keep rocking on!