For most of her life, Kathryn “Kathy” Allen, 77, has managed heart conditions. Born with a congenital heart defect, she underwent two open-heart surgeries before doctors discovered something unexpected.
September is Aortic Awareness Month
For most of her life, Kathryn “Kathy” Allen, 77, has managed heart conditions. Born with a congenital heart defect, she underwent two open-heart surgeries before doctors discovered something unexpected during routine cardiac monitoring: two large aneurysms in her chest.
"I had absolutely no idea," Allen says. "I was very surprised to hear I had an aneurysm in my aorta."
Unlike many other cardiovascular conditions, aortic aneurysms often develop without symptoms. Because Allen remained under the care of Timothy Daly, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at INTEGRIS Health Cardiovascular Physicians at the INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital, the aneurysms were detected before they became a life-threatening emergency.
Allen's age and medical history made treatment more complicated. In addition to two prior open-heart surgeries, she had risk factors including hypertension and a history of smoking.
"Repairing these aneurysms with traditional surgery would have required a very high-risk and extensive operation," says Marshall Bell, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon at the INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital. "She was too frail to undergo an operation of that magnitude."
A multidisciplinary team – including Bell, Daly, M.D. and Jones Thomas, M.D., a vascular surgeon at INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital – created a treatment plan that avoided another open-heart surgery. Using a staged approach, surgeons first rerouted blood flow through small incisions in Allen's neck before placing a specialized stent graft through blood vessels in her legs to repair both aneurysms.
"Aortic technology is rapidly evolving," Bell says. "Patients who were previously believed to be inoperable because of surgical risk now have potential options."
For Allen and her family, the recovery was dramatically different from her previous open-heart surgeries.
"When we learned she had an aortic aneurysm, all we could think about was how difficult her last recovery had been," says her daughter, Emily Allen-Worrell. "This time, it was truly night and day."
Allen-Worrell describes her mother as an "absolute sweetheart" with a bubbly personality and a knack for making people laugh. "She's a complete clown in the best way," she says. "Even in the hospital, she was joking, talking and having fun. She had a positive attitude the entire time."
Kathy was up walking shortly after surgery and experienced little pain.
“This surgery was the best ever,” she says. “My recovery time was much shorter, and I was able to move around without a lot of discomfort. I even craved carrot cake, which is my favorite.” Her son-in-law was more than happy to help, keeping her supplied with carrot cake throughout her hospital stay.
Her care team also left a lasting impression. “The INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital staff genuinely made me feel like I was staying in a five-star hotel,” Allen says. “The care was incredible. My nurse, Jackie Gomez, was the most incredible person. She made my time at INTEGRIS Health comfortable and truly special.”
Allen-Worrell also credits the physicians, nurses and staff for making an intimidating experience easier. “Dr. Thomas spent so much time explaining things and answering our questions,” she says. “And every nurse we encountered was fantastic. Knowing mom was in great hands helped alleviate our anxiety before and after the surgery.”
According to Bell, aortic aneurysms affect approximately 2% of adults over age 65 and are more common among people with a history of smoking, high blood pressure or a family history of aneurysm. Many aneurysms cause no symptoms until they become serious.
“One of the most important aspects of cardiovascular care is ongoing surveillance, especially for patients with a complex cardiac history,” Daly says. “Kathy’s aneurysms were identified before they caused symptoms or became an emergency, giving us the opportunity to develop an individualized treatment plan and achieve an excellent outcome.”
Today, Allen is enjoying more energy, time with her family and a renewed appreciation for her health. “You don’t realize how tired you’ve become because it happens so gradually,” she says. “I feel more energetic and just overall better now.”
When asked what she's most grateful for, she answers without hesitation. "My health," she says. "It could have been so much different. I've been very fortunate."
During Aortic Awareness Month, INTEGRIS Health encourages individuals to talk with their primary care provider or cardiologist about their heart and vascular health. “We’re committed to staying on top of the latest advances in aortic care, making sure Oklahomans have access to the newest technologies and treatment options,” says Bell. “Our patients shouldn’t have to leave Oklahoma to get cutting-edge care.” Aortic disease patients can be seen by calling the INTEGRIS Health Cardiovascular Physicians Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinic at 405-951-4345.
If you are over the age of 40, check the risk factors. Regular screening and early detection can lead to timely interventions, potentially preventing more serious heart conditions down the line.
