Bicuspid Aortic Foundation Reflections on Thoracic Aortic Disease

Reflections on Thoracic Aortic Disease
January 2007

Dr. Michael DeBakey's Thoracic Aortic Dissection, Surgery, and Recovery

The December 25th edition of the New York Times contains an amazing story about Dr. Michael DeBakey's recovery following ascending aortic dissection and surgery at the age of 97. Dr. DeBakey, who pioneered the use of Dacron for aortic aneurysm replacement, had a Dacron graft implanted in his own chest this past February.

The story of Dacron is a fascinating one. In the early 1950's several synthetic materials were tried, looking for the best solution to replace the aorta. When Dr. DeBakey went to a department store seeking nylon, the store had run out. However, he was offered a new fabric called Dacron instead. He took the Dacron home, sewed it into tubes on his wife's sewing machine, and tried them in animals. In 1954, Dr. DeBakey placed the first Dacron graft in a human, replacing an abdominal aortic aneurysm. In 1955 Poth and others published a paper that gives some insight into the work being done on materials to replace the aorta. This paper mentions that Dacron had only been studied slightly but might be one of the better tolerated choices. The work done at that time was the beginnings of the Dacron grafts in so many chests today, amazingly including that of Dr. DeBakey himself.

The New York Times article speaks eloquently to so many aspects of aortic disease, including the denial, fear, and complex decisions that may confront patients, families, and physicians faced with life-threatening aortic conditions. The description of Dr. DeBakey's self-diagnosis of his chest pain as aortic dissection is riveting. It also is mentioned that Dr. DeBakey's cardiac check ups, including an echocardiogram a few weeks earlier, did not detect Dr. DeBakey's enlarged ascending aorta. A CT scan done on January 3rd showed an ascending aortic aneurysm of 5.2 cm which grew to the enormous size of 7.5 cm by February 9th, when surgery was performed.

Please click here to read the New York Times story.

Jen Lopez - Familial TAAD, Three Dissections, and a Heart Transplant

The Bicuspid Aortic Foundation has another encouraging story to share. It is the story of a courageous young woman who has just received a new heart.

Click here to read about Jen Lopez, who today continues to recover from the surgery which gave her a new heart and ascending aorta.

The Importance of Hope

In the most difficult moments, we need hope to bring us through. Dr. DeBakey's family maintained hope, insisting on surgery to save him, and today he is back to work! Despite the loss of her Father and Grandmother to familial TAAD and knowing that further dissection in the arteries of her own heart would be fatal, Jen Lopez bravely waited, hoping for a new heart.

Hope can take many forms. It was there in the drawing of a rainbow, given to Dr. DeBakey by an eight year old girl. It was there when the phone rang with the message of a new heart for Jen Lopez.

Hope enables us to take action, to go forward through the experience.

May these examples of triumph over aortic and cardiac dissection inspire us,
creating a climate of hope.

Sincerely,
Arlys Velebir
Chair, Board of Directors
Bicuspid Aortic Foundation

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