Reflections on Life - Ordinary Days, Tubes, Pressure, Tears, and Ruptures

Any ordinary day can become a crisis in a just a moment of time. 
Recent research about the reason for weakness of the BAV aorta
reminded me of this experience with my car!

My weak, bulging, torn, ruptured radiator hose!

It was just like any other morning. I pulled into a parking spot and switched off the ignition - an ordinary motion, on an ordinary day. Immediately, to my shock, great white billows emerged from under the hood of my car! Getting out, I could tell it was steam rather than smoke - no fire at least, that was a relief!

Eventually the steam subsided, but not before attracting some attention, while I called my wonderful local mechanic and arranged to transport the car to his garage. When he arrived, the flatbed truck driver looked under the hood and pointed out the likely culprit, a hose. Riding in the cab of that huge flat bed truck, I wondered how bad it was. I knew one thing - I was extremely glad that it happened when it did, parked, and with the engine shut off. What if it had happened while driving in that rush hour traffic - not a safe place to break down?!

The human aorta has three layers - the outer one is very strong.
That strong outer layer can save lives when it holds on long
enough to get to surgery, after the inner layers tear.
I don't know how many layers of materials this hose had,
or how well designed it was to handle pressure. 

I left my car in excellent hands, knowing it would get a thorough check up. Later, the call came, confirming the problem. There was indeed a torn, ruptured main radiator hose. The hose had become weakened and bulged out over time (the clamped ends were still the normal size). I do not know why it chose that precise moment when I shut off the engine to tear and burst. Was there an extra surge of pressure just then? 

Diseased, Bulging Aortas are Dangerous!

When my "car doctor" called to tell me what had been found, it reminded me so much of the way aortic surgeons describe the diseased aorta in the chest - weakened and bulging! 

When the aortic tissue becomes weak and bulges, it is also prone to tearing and rupture. If it tears, causing bleeding in the wall of the aorta, it is called dissection. Quickly getting into surgery can save lives, as long as the outer aortic wall holds. When the aorta completely breaks open, the massive, uncontrolled bleeding is rapid and deadly.

Aortic aneurysm and bicuspid aortic valve

Check Your Hoses - Replace if Necessary!
Unfortunately, it is easier to replace the radiator hose on my car than it is to replace a weak section of aorta inside the chest. However, it can be and is safely done! The best time to do it, like it should have been for my car's radiator hose, is before it tears or breaks. 

Torn and completely ruptured, radiator fluid was soon all gone
When the aorta ruptures, it is blood that escapes rapidly,
 until life can no longer be supported.

So have that CT scan or MRI and follow the size of the aorta! Have it measured and interpreted by expert eyes. Then have open, frank discussion with your doctor about when to replace that most vital of "hoses", the ascending aorta in the chest.

I am forever grateful that the aneurysm in my husband's chest was found, medicine was prescribed to lower the pressure on his weak, bulging tissue, and it was safely and expertly removed before it could hurt him. There were other things - aortic valve failures and infection - that did hurt him, but he never had to experience aortic dissection or rupture. Too many others have suffered this aortic tragedy. Let us hope that the recently published research, Defusing the cardiac time bomb, will truly usher in the dawn of a better day for those with BAV and aneurysm.

Best wishes to all,

Arlys Velebir