Most doctors get concerned at 5.0 cm and start thing surgery. At 5.5 cm surgery is highly recommended. Youre blessed to be alive.

Wow an aneurysm sounds horrible. My niece has one in her aortic, but being that it is small she was told to keep on living, and not to worry! (i told her to get a second opinion) Dustin and Frank, I am sorry to hear that! Sending prayers your way!

Interesting…..

Frank I looked at this several times and am wondering what what your question? 5.9 on the Ascending Thoracic, Arch and Descending thoracic Aorta is quite extreme, while in the Abdominal Aorta they might allow the size due mainly to the velocity of the blood flow from the Aortic Root/Valve into the the 1st curve of the Ascending to to Root which over the lifetime can almost be looked at as the Blood sandblasting that area in the beginning of the curve, After all the blood is quite alkyde in nature and the inner layer(s) are quite thin... imagine 50 -60,70 year old copper pipes with the water that flows constantly into a 85 degree change of direction

Dustin, It is quite typical IN the UK and Ireland and Other Places (as well) to "let things go" The surgery Is Intense and extensive Because They have to have the skills To surgically Change The Upper Radiator hose (and Possibly) the heater hoses with the Engine still running without allowing the engine to over heat (human speak) Allow the brain to be deprived of Oxygen leaving you Brain death IF you do survive.... I suffered an Emergent Ascending Aortic Dissection in 2009 The hole in My aorta was JUST on the beginning of the curve from the Ascending Aorta into the Beginning of the Arch but prior to The ( Brachial and Carotid) arteries On My right side. The Pericardium enclosed the Break and I basically Pressurized The "Sandwich Baggie" that surrounds and protects the heart with the escaped blood so as I was bleeding to death The Baggie presserizing Kind of Began to slow my heart down when I arrived at My "local Trauma hospital My Blood pressure was 60/30 which is about 2 points on either scale about the death coma your more then likely not coming back... but Here I am Monday I discussed my Latest CT scan of both the Graft and repair as well as The rest of MY Aorta now that i am 62 and 11 years ( 12 in October post repair . I often get an earful about the style of treatment In the UK ( I hear more There) then in Ireland But I am aware a couple of years back I came across a story that some folks around Waterford (if memory serves had issues one weekend evening with getting care Locally with a Myocardial infarction (heart Attack) which is quite a bit less an issue then An Aortic Dissection repair so I am not a know it all or physician I was a Firefighter between the Volunteer and Career service here 35 years total and was a medical responder who would show up with a Fire truck and support life if need be with Oxygen and AED If Needed so I had a very small amount of training.... The Graphic below certainly isn't the best one But it Indicates how the inner most layer of the Aorta can "separate" forming a "False Lumen" beside the actual Lumen ( Blood Flow area) the terms get confusing I'll mention some of that Later If you like however This graffic does NOT point out the Various segments of the Aorta and how or why they are "separated from one another