Dad related mojo request...really bad day

Tiltsta

Tiltsta

Show me your frittatas
Staff member
My dad's routine physical found an aortic aneurism on his distal aorta. 6.5 cm bubble of distended aorta, with the current options of fixing it pretty limited. It seems the best bet is to enter a clinical trial for an artificial aorta replacement appliance delivered via a laproscopic type procedure. 5 year survival without the procedure is basically 0%, but with intervention, it could be as high as 70%. Luckily, he is in good health for his age (73), and a very active person, so the doctors think his success rate would be closer to 80-85%. I'm, frankly, scared shitless about the whole thing. Anyway, he is currently getting CT scan to custom build his new aorta stent, and should go under then knife in late December. A little mojo couldn't hurt.
 
Damn, I'm sorry to hear that, T. That does sound really scary. I'll be thinking good thoughts for your dad.
 
My step-father-in-law had that procedure and was a smoker, etc. and breezed through it (only to die a few years later of lung cancer)...

I'm sure your dad'll do fine!
 
The big issue is the location of the aneurism, being right in the cluster of derivative vessels that flow to the kidneys, legs, bowels, spine, and liver off the aorta. This makes it a case for one of 4 possible surgeons in a clinical trial in the US to test a new aorta replacement device. Luckily, there is one about 3 hours from where they live in Florida, and maybe only 30 minutes from my house. I was lucky enough to know about the clinical trial, as I have a joint appointment at that facility's medical school, otherwise it would be an open surgical producer, with very likely kidney and liver impairment post surgery. I met with the lead study physician this morning to get the 'real deal' and then met with him and my parents afterwards. The worst part for me is knowing that I might have entered him into something that might cost him his life, but it is the best option available. Tough stuff to think about. Thankfully, it isn't a total crap shoot, as the device in question has been approved in Canada, the UK, and Germany with good success (relative to the severity of the condition), so it isn't like this is a brand new idea, but it is still scary as hell.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tig
Dad mojo enroute...

Will your position and relationship with the facility help get it done faster?
 
The scariest part was seeing a sample of the device. It was as thick as a garden hose, and about 9 inches long, with ports attached to allow threading the shunting blood vessels. Looking at it suggests the attachment sites are about at the level of the heart all the way down to the lower abdomen. Not much aorta left at that point. Doctor I met with before the meeting with my dad told me, in typical doctor speak, that this would take care of the problem and last around 20 years, which puts dad past the survival curve for his age. I guess my parents have been pretty healthy, so this is the first real confrontation of 'your parents will die' for me. Everyone knows their parents will die, but things like this make it more acute.
 
jelloman said:
Dad mojo enroute...

Will your position and relationship with the facility help get it done faster?
Click to expand...

No, the laws/rules are very clear on this issue. My position there can't impact enrollment or procedure positioning, as it should be. I'm just glad I knew about it, or things would look more bleak, as I bet many, many people don't look up stuff like this on the government clinical trials registry. Heck, even my knowing about it is a bit of a fluke.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top