Patient: I am 53 years old, suffering from hypertension for more than 10 years. In 98, I was examined in our hospital before orthopedic surgery, and the ascending aorta was dilated 5cm, and the dilatation was increased before surgery in 2006, and widened to 5.8cm in April 2008 in other hospital cta, with no lesion in the valve. At present, there is pressure in the shoulder clip and no other symptoms. Please tell me: Does this disease require immediate surgery? What is the risk of surgery? Do the risks occur more intraoperatively or postoperatively? I have read your ward website, is the absence of entrapment a true aneurysm? The most mentioned aortic aneurysm, I wonder if dilated ascending aorta and aortic aneurysm are the same disease? Are the surgical options the same? Can epidural anesthesia be used for this type of surgery? If a laminated stent is used, does it touch the thoracic 8 to lumbar vertebrae? Can the blood supply to the brain and vertebral body be monitored at any time during surgery? Can general anesthesia be used to regain consciousness and see family members at the end of the procedure? Will there be distal and proximal leaks or endoleaks after the replacement? Are there any life-threatening consequences? Is there a treatment time? How will it be treated? What is the lifespan of a vascular replacement? Do I need to take medication for long-term “maintenance” after the replacement? How much damage does the medication do to the internal organs? I hope you can give me a reply in your busy schedule. Luo Wenqi: There are many causes of ascending aortic dilatation, common 1. aortitis; 2. Marfan syndrome; 3 syphilis infection; 4. hypertension and atherosclerosis; 5. ankylosing spondylitis; 6. idiopathic: the cause is currently unknown. Aortic aneurysm is considered to be formed when the aorta becomes dilated and its diameter reaches one and a half times the normal diameter of the aorta. Aortic aneurysms are serious life-threatening diseases for patients, and when the diameter is greater than 5 cm, the risk of rupture increases with the diameter and should be operated early! The risk can occur intraoperatively and postoperatively, the program should be ascending aortic replacement, definitely general anesthesia, this type of aneurysm does not choose to apply stents, not aortic arch replacement of patients with little problem of cerebral protection, general anesthesia after surgery is usually with tracheal intubation back to the care unit, at this time has not recovered consciousness, after the replacement may appear anastomotic leakage, serious cases may need to operate again to stop bleeding, artificial blood vessels available for life. You should take anticoagulant drugs, which may cause complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding. You should control your blood pressure now, especially your heart rate, which should be as low as possible. Also control your blood lipids, blood sugar, etc. You can bring your CTA to our outpatient clinic or ward doctor’s office for consultation.