Posted on 12/20/2010 10:19:32 PM PST by neverdem
The death of the veteran diplomat Richard C. Holbrooke last week shocked Americans and his many colleagues around the world. Mr. Holbrooke, 69, was a larger-than-life figure, a fearless and robust man who was apparently struck down without warning.
He became ill on a Friday, and was dead by Monday. According to government officials, the cause was a tear in his aorta, the artery that carries blood from the heart to vessels that feed the rest of the body.
Mr. Holbrooke underwent 21 hours of surgery from Friday to Saturday to repair the damage, and then another seven-hour operation on Sunday, all at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington. But no amount of surgery could save him.
Aortic tears may be unfamiliar to most people, but they kill at least 2,000 Americans a year, and possibly more, because some of the deaths may be mistakenly attributed to heart attacks. Tears are more common in men than in women, and most likely in people from 40 to 70. Their causes include uncontrolled high blood pressure, atherosclerosis and a genetic tendency to have weak tissue or an abnormal valve in the aorta. There may be no warning signs before the tear occurs.
The aorta is the biggest artery in the body, more than an inch wide in some spots. It has three layers; most tears start in the innermost one. Blood can then force its way into the tear and separate the layers, or peel them apart a type of damage called aortic dissection.
A flap and a false channel can form inside the aorta and impede blood flow. And the pressure from the blood can keep enlarging the tear and the flap. If the tear goes all the way through and the aorta ruptures, death can be almost immediate...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Yep. Seen how they kill (and how fast someone dies) way too many times.
Bacterial infections and even simple things as teeth cleaning, tooth extractions, etc. can lead to valvular endocarditis, don’t know if that’s what happened to you, but as I said previously anything that involves the aortic valve should be closely monitored. The aortic valve is the most scrutinized heart structure when doing an echo exam, when a problem is found it can be life changing and as an echocardiographer it is important to determine the severity.
Hers was a torn pulmonary vein due to trauma. Traumatic rupture of the aorta is also common in high speed collisions, seat belts or no. 95 per cent do not survive.
He would be alive today if he went to Cuba for treatment.
You beat me to it.
If it ain’t one thing, it’s something else.
As I approach 69, there is but another mortal consideration
$640. Not counting Dr. appointments, etc.
Is there not a test that checks the blood vessels in your entire body?
I am sure prices would be all over the map but here in SW Fl there was an outfit advertising heavily for three tests together to completely check your circulatory system for $199 They had a semi they went location to location in no doctor you were supposed to take the results to your doc to get treated if needed. Have not seen one of their ads recently but them I have stopped watching TV.
THX THX
Is this sort of problem detectable by an echo cardiogram or are you referring to a different ultrasound procedure?
I don't think I could survive your job, and am ultra grateful that you and your colleagues can and do every day.
Bump that.
I have echocardiograms once a year. Billing to insurance charges $400-800 IIRC. If you’re not in a hurry and pay cash, shop around a bit to independent labs. Insurance and “captive audience” costs more. Takes about 30-60 minutes, painless, in-and-out.
I have a bicuspid aortic valve and have an annual ultrasound done. I am also on BP meds to keep the aorta from expanding. It has actually gotten closer to normal the past few years.
That was my impression. Is there anyone who doesn’t think a torn aorta is lethal?
They usually set up in a church or Sr. citizen center. They just to a simple ultrasound screen, not the in depth tests you would get in a hospital, but they can and have spotted problems which your doc should then follow up on with more extensive testing.
Yeah if you have Super sharp piercing pain from front to back of mid sternum ( that lasts and does not go away) .... make sure you are right with your savior.
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