A word of hope for those diagnosed with AAA. My father discovered his first case in 1991, after a long false diagnosis for ulcers and other stomach disorders. In the end his case was somewhat rare I'm told, a hard almost calcified aorta just above and below the renal arteries. Once his operation began and the circumstances clear, they filmed the operation (at Seattle hospital) the circumstances so unusual, I'm told.
He recovered nicely from this first case, and returned to work for 3 years. In 1994 he had his second, this time unplanned and undiagnosed. He fell on a shop floor while calling on clients at a truck shop. Fifteen minutes later, at the hospital, he was told his chances were slim the diagnosis grave. Thankfully, there happened to be two excellent surgeons available, one with reputation for fast hands with a needle.
His aorta next to the heart valve was implicated, so close they felt the valve may need replacing too. The surgery was successful, but in their haste the nerve to the diaphragm was nicked, slowing greatly his recovery. This required he remain on ventilator nearly 25 days while his torso muscles healed enough to provide the diaphragm effect his lungs needed to function.
Today, 9 plus years later he is still motoring along. He walks nearly every day, about 3 miles. In summer he boats and pulls crab pots. He will be 77 this year. He quit smoking after the first surgery too.
There's no doubt the disease has a genetic origin. His older brother and male cousin have both survived the disease too. I guess the message is this. The surgery is hard, grueling and dangerous. But with a bit of luck and grit, you can recover to 100%.