[SEL] O.T. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

[Steve W.]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Arthur Buchanan" <galoway4 at earthlink.net>
To: <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
Cc: <7x10minilathe at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 2:33 PM
Subject: [SEL] O.T. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm


       I was operated on for  a abdominal aeurysm on 1/25/06.The size of
the aneurysm was 5.1x6.7 cm. The  Aortic  was slit open and a 3/4"
plastic tube was inserted and the Aortic trimed and sewed back to
gether,also the artories for both legs were replaced. At 76 it has taken
a while to recover,but should be bach in my shop soon,
  The reason for this comment is to let  let you know this condition is
commond and people die from it every day because they do not know. There
is no pain until it ruptures and then it is too late.


Art,
  You are very right the Triple A is a VERY serious item. Glad you made
it through in one piece. Did they find it prior to rupture? If not and
they managed to operate in time you are VERY VERY lucky and might want
to buy a few lottery tickets:-)

Jokes aside it is a very common problem in persons of advanced age and
is identifiable.

For folks who don't know what Art is talking about. Your descending
Aorta is the blood vessel that supplies blood through the lower portion
of your body, Roughly from the bottom of your lungs to your toes. It
carries a LOT of blood. If you have a AAA that ruptures it can take as
little as 8 minutes to bleed to death. That blood will be contained in
the abdomen and just fills all the spaces around your organs. The only
external signs are usually an initial rapid pulse, severe sweating and a
semi rigid abdomen, This is usually followed by the person losing blood
pressure rapidly, loss of a pulse and unconsciousness, at that point
unless your in the OR and they are ready to go it is usually to late.
The two other vessels they replaced would have been the femoral
arteries. These are the ones on the inside area of both legs and they
carry blood from the descending aorta to the vessels in the legs.

Steve Williams.