About Curtis J. Edwards, MD, FACS Expertise Semi-retired, general and vascular surgery questions, veins arteries and questions related to the thorax. Seventeen years practice experience. I ran the non-invasive vascular lab at a major teaching hospital prior to attending medical school. While in private practice treated diseases of the peripheral veins and arteries including venous injection and ablation procedures, and arterial bypass grafting, and endarterectomy.
Experience Seventeen years private practice, general, peripheral vascular, non-cardiac thoracic surgery (semi-retired). Aviation medicine.
Organizations College of Surgeons, AMA, Aerospace Medical Assoc.
Education/Credentials BA,MD, American Board of Surgery, Fellow American College of Surgeons, Senior FAA Aerospace Medical Examiner
Question Hi I am a 41 yr old female, I was diagnosed with high bp (176/126 scarry). I have always been in good health, bp always good, exercise for the most part. Dr. did mra to rule out renal stenonis and also echo. stenosis was not found, but I was told I have a 1.0 x 0.8 cm splenic artery aneurysm located near the hilum of the spleen. I was told to just watch it, but am petrified that it is there. I am having a hard time with this. I would like to have it removed, but giving the location I know I would have to lose my spleen, which is a whole other problem. The strange thing is my aunt was going for a knee operation and they ran some tests and was also just diagnosed with this last month. Do you feel this is a coincidence or heredity. I am getting the feeling not to many dr. deal with this. From reading some info in the web, most people do elective surgery. My original dr. said he never seen this before. I would love some input if you could. Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you.
Answer I actually wrote a paper about this condition many years ago based on an anecdotal report. I am one of the few surgeons around to have saved a woman who ruptured a renal artery aneurysm. Aneurysms of the type you refer do have a hereditary component. They are associated with aneurysm in other places in the same patient. I haven't reviewed the literature in years but somewhere around thirty percent as I recall. You should get a copy of your MRI and see a good vascular surgeon for advice, one who practices at a major university center. I hope this helps.
