1 June 2004
Ten years ago, I had severe chest pains in front and in the back, and was transported to St. Vincent's Hospital, Indianapolis. Approximately 24 hrs. later I was rushed from the catherization lab to surgery where Dr. Robert Matheney placed a graft in the aortic arch. My recovery was very good.
About 2 years ago, I changed family physicians, from a physician who was retiring to a much younger physician (Charles Hasbrook, MD). He prescribed a CT scan. He called me about a week later and stated that the report diagnosed two dissections and three aneurysms. With that he wanted me to contact a surgeon which I did, but the surgeon wanted to wait.
I had a son-in-law who had done a residency and fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic, and he got me in to see Dr. Roy Greenburg, MD. Dr Greenburg is watching a 5.3cm aneurysm near the iliac artery. Dr. Greenburg referred me to Dr. Bruce Lytle because of the expansion of some aneurysms near the previously repaired graft. Dr. Lytle recommended surgery as soon as possible, because I was having difficulty keeping my blood pressure low, and I had an identical twin brother who died on a sidewalk, and an autopsy revealed that he had an aortic dissection and rupture at the arch in August 2003.
Dr Lytle performed the surgery which repaired (grafting) several of the aneurysms in the decending aorta but not the aneurysm near the iliac. The current scar extends from under my armpit around the left shoulderblade, and then curves back up toward the stomach. I am in cardiac rehabilitation (exercise program) for which Blue Cross and Blue Shield would not pay because it was not "open-heart".
In August, 2004, I will be meeting with Dr. Greenburg on the unrepaired aneurysm near the iliac.