My name is Benny Bowers and I live in Raleigh, North Carolina -- am 53 years old and had been a very active tennis player and in general in very good shape. On Nov. 28,2000 I was returning to Albemarle having taken my mother to the eye doctor when I felt a sharp spasm in my back which grew worse and worse quickly. I wound up pulling off the road -- tried to stretch it out in the car then on the ground and was hanging onto a telephone pole support wire when some paramedics from Tennessee happened to be coming by and stopped to try and assist me. They couldn't do much but did call the local ambulance who took me to NorthEast Hospital ( who may have saved my life). They stabilized my condition and diagnosed a 5.6cm dissection of my descending aorta. 6 weeks (1/09/2001) later it had grown to 6.3 cm and 6 weeks later 6.5 cm. I tried to research stents -- finding they were usually done in the abdominal area and were in their infancy or experimental stage for descending Type III or Type B dissections. It now appears I may need conventional surgery.
A more accurate description:
Chronic dissection from just beyond the left subclavian to above T-10. A dissection of the descending aorta is present beginning just distal to the origin of the LEFT subclavian artery. Flap is well visualized down into the lower chest. Flow is identified in the true and false lumens in the proximal portion of the dissection. The dissection appears to begin in the proximal descending aorta just distal to the origin of the LEFT subclavian artery. Some atelectatic lung is seen adjacent to the descending aorta. The LEFT common carotid origin and the innominate origin appear unremarkable, although there is significant streak artifact from the adjacent SVC.
In addition, I do have a bicuspid aortic valve with moderate insufficiency and a minimally dilated aortic root.
Being from North Carolina I was hoping someone could identify suitable (experienced ) surgeons in North Carolina. Hopefully someone could share their actual knowledge with me. Duke (Dr. Walt Wolfe and UNC Chapel Hill -- Dr. Frank Detterbeck) have been identified as possibilities but I am unsure of their experience in this particular operation ( I am aware that this is not a common operation -- and should only be done at a major medical center). If anyone has had surgery under either of these two or could suggest someone else in North Carolina I would appreciate it. Again this is a dissection of the descending aorta.
Everyday I am scared. The risks of the conventional surgery have been given to me as 4-9% paraplegic -- vocal -- stroke -- clot -- major complication 10-20%. If I should go out of State what can I expect insurance wise. I am with the State of North Carolina plan (Blue Cross Blue Shield) and have no idea what that means out of state. Trying to decide to have the surgery while I feel good is very tough -- waiting till I have to appear to really invite the risk of death or major complication.
Any comments from anyone would be extremely appreciated especially if there is someone in North Carolina that has enough experience that going out of state is probably not warranted.
This web site has been a blessing. People here know what all of us are going through and really want to help. Thank you all so much. I would appreciate anything you could share with me.