Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Treatment in India

Saanvi Brown, a 68-year-old retired school...

Saanvi Brown, a 68-year-old retired school librarian and avid gardener, had a history of hypertension and a 40-year smoking habit she quit a decade ago. For months, she dismissed a persistent, deep ache in her back and abdomen as 'old age,' but it worsened, accompanied by shortness of breath that made tending her roses a struggle. A CT scan ordered by her primary doctor revealed a 6.2 cm thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. Her pulmonologist, Dr. Evans, explained the grave risk of rupture and that the aneurysm's location was compressing her left lung, causing her respiratory symptoms. He recommended urgent open surgical repair. The 8-hour procedure was daunting, and Saanvi spent two days in the ICU, terrified but determined. Her recovery was slow and painful, requiring three weeks in the hospital to manage pain, lung re-expansion, and physical therapy. A year later, while still mindful of her limits, she gardens without breathlessness. Emotionally, she journeyed from fear and denial to profound gratitude, now cherishing each day with her grandchildren, her anxiety replaced by a cautious optimism.