How to Detect Aneurysm Risk Factors

Male Speaker: Paul Deckenbach considers himself a lucky man, he is alive today because of some quick thinking on his part. Darren Schneider: He woke up with chest and upper back pain and that woke him from sleep I believe and called 911 and we brought him to the hospital. Male Speaker: Paramedics wasted no time getting Paul to the emergency room. They realized he might be dealing with a thoracic aneurysm on his aortic artery. ER doctors were able to avoid a rupture and save Paul's life. Now a days after 40 years of service as an Episcopal priest he is retired and lives in San Francisco where he still occasional serves as a volunteer at Grace Episcopal cathedral. Paul Deckenbach: The parish I was in was different and needed different things in order to make it work. Male Speaker: Paul monitors his condition carefully now that he knows he is part of a high risk group. Darren Schneider: He had a thoracic aortic aneurysm, so an aneurysm in the chest he had it in his 70s and does have some associated heart disease as well a history of smoking in his past. Male Speaker: Smokers are at risk as are those with a history of heart disease, but often there is no identifiable cause for an aneurysm. Joseph Coselli: Aortic aneurysm is a blooming out of the aortic wall, the blood inside the aorta is there under pressure, and also the fact that we have a blood pressure. These weakened aortic walls from aortic dissection are prone to rupture just as many of the other aneurysms from other causes are. Darren Schneider: Most aneurysms have actually been present or growing for a long period of time, patients have probably had an aneurysm may be at least a small aneurysm for years before they actually come to clinical attention. Male Speaker: Routine ultra sound or CT screening can detect the presence of an aneurysm and determine the viability of surgical repair procedures. After assessing the risks of a possible rupture Paul opted for a minimally invasive endovascular stent graft procedure as an alternative to open chest surgery. Paul Deckenbach: They opened up the place at the top of my leg and fit it in a stent that was made to order it's held it together ever since. Male Speaker: The procedure uses the femoral arteries to channel a stent into place within the thoracic aneurysm with x-ray technology, the procedure is directed to help deploy and carefully secure the stent graft in place. Paul Deckenbach: It's like having a piece of borrowed time given to you. Male Speaker: I think that he made a good recovery from the procedure. He's had some on going issues due to his heart disease but overall has been doing quite well. Paul Deckenbach: Like having a little piece of life that you realize you might not have had at all because of that it becomes more precious.