Routine Heart Monitoring Leads to Life-Saving Aortic Aneurysm Repair

14 October 2026

Posted in

Heart Health

A complex, minimally invasive procedure helped Kathy Allen avoid a third open-heart surgery and return home with more energy and little pain.

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.”

Aortic aneurysms can develop without noticeable symptoms. Because Allen remained under the care of Timothy Daly, M.D., an interventional cardiologist with INTEGRIS Health Cardiovascular Physicians at the INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital, her aneurysms were detected before they became a life-threatening emergency.

What is an aortic aneurysm?

The aorta is the body’s largest artery. It carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. An aortic aneurysm occurs when part of the artery’s wall weakens and begins to bulge.

If an aneurysm grows too large, it can rupture or cause a tear in the artery wall. Both complications can be life-threatening. Because many aortic aneurysms do not cause symptoms, regular monitoring can be especially important for people with known cardiovascular disease or other risk factors.

“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.”

Finding an alternative to open-heart surgery

Allen’s age and medical history made treatment more complicated. In addition to having undergone two previous open-heart surgeries, she had risk factors that included 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 that included Bell, Daly and Jones Thomas, M.D., a vascular surgeon at the INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital, developed a treatment plan that would allow Allen to avoid another open-heart surgery.

Using a staged approach, the surgeons first rerouted blood flow through small incisions in Allen’s neck. They then inserted 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.”

A much different recovery

For Allen and her family, the recovery was dramatically different from what they had experienced following 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.”

Allen was walking shortly after surgery and experienced little pain.

“This surgery was the best ever,” Allen 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.

Compassionate care through a complex procedure

Allen says 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,” she 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 with making an intimidating experience easier for the entire family.

“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.”

Who is at risk for an aortic aneurysm?

According to Bell, aortic aneurysms affect approximately 2% of adults older than 65. Risk may be higher among people with:

A history of smoking
High blood pressure
A family history of aortic aneurysm
Certain congenital heart conditions
Other cardiovascular conditions

Because aortic aneurysms often do not cause symptoms, people may not know they have one until it is identified through imaging or becomes a medical emergency.

Your primary care provider or cardiologist can help you understand your personal risk and determine whether additional monitoring or screening may be appropriate based on your age, health history and family history.

More energy and a renewed appreciation for her health

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 is most grateful for, she answers without hesitation.

“My health,” Allen says. “It could have been so much different. I’ve been very fortunate.”

Bell says expanding treatment options are allowing more patients with complex aortic disease to receive advanced care close to home.

“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,” Bell says. “Our patients shouldn’t have to leave Oklahoma to get cutting-edge care.”

Talk to your doctor about your heart and vascular health

If you have a history of cardiovascular disease, smoking, high blood pressure or aortic aneurysm in your family, talk with your primary care provider or cardiologist about your risk. Routine care and appropriate monitoring may help identify changes before they become emergencies.

To learn more or schedule an appointment, call the INTEGRIS Health Cardiovascular Physicians Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinic at 405-951-4345.