Aortic Aneurysm - MRI a week after check up?

[Emlou07]

My father has an aortic aneurysm and has had for around 5 years now (he is 70 this year). He had been having 3 monthly check ups to monitor the growth, which seems to have been slow and steady.

He had a check up last week and as it is now the size that enters the higher risk of rupture, he needs an MRI to take a closer look.

He got the letter yesterday to say that his appointment is on Wednesday. Just a week after his check up.

I was always told that the longer you wait for an appointment the better. So obviously I'm now very worried!

Does anyone know if this sort of time frame is normal for this sort of thing? Or am I right to be worried?

I should add that he smokes like a chimney and drinks like a fish, which I know will not help! But he won't be told :(

Sorry there isn't an aibu, I'm just hoping someone will have the answer. Thank you

I don’t know if anyone can really answer this question except your dad’s doctor. But maybe it’s a good thing he’s being seen soon so anything worrying can be managed? My mum (former heavy smoker) has an aortic aneurysm but smaller, so I read up on it - that’s the extent of my knowledge (I am not a doctor). But I didn’t get the impression that an early appointment is any kind of harbinger of doom.

Do you think you could persuade your dad to consider vaping instead of smoking? Same nicotine hit without the damaging tar. Maybe more realistic that quitting altogether. Obviously only if healthcare professionals agree.

I've tried for many years. He's of the 'I've lived my life, I enjoy it's mentality :(

I think if I'm being honest with myself I'm more worried they will do the MRI and tell us he is riddled with cancer from the smoking :(

@RiojaRose hand hold for going through this with your mum

An urgent referral would be quite usual where it’s grown into higher risk category. That’s usually under two weeks.
Try and get him to reduce or stop smoking in case surgery becomes necessary. The longer he doesn’t smoke for, the better the outcome.
I’m guessing it’s an abdominal aneurysm, so the MRI won’t be focussing on his lungs or bones and is unlikely to pick up cancer. Usually if someone with lung cancer is ‘riddled’ they’ll be symptomatic.

Emlou07 Hand hold to you too. I really hope everything is ok with your father.

They will want to know further detail fast to decide if he needs an urgent intervention as sounds like he has reached the point where the risk of rupture is extremely high. A ruptured AAA carries a very highmortality and therefore they will want to decide quickly if he needs surgery and if so whether it will be minimally invasive (called an endovascular repair) or an open repair. It is high risk surgery - especially open surgery. Honestly, if you can persuade him to stop smoking and cut back drinking it will make a difference if they want to operate.

Hand hold at a really hard time.

An appointment in one week is classified as semi-urgent at the hospital I work at. I work in radiology and sadly If he continues to smoke and drink it is likely his AAA will rupture and he most likely wouldn’t survive. If he insists on continuing with his current lifestyle there is little point in the MRI. It will just confirm the severity of his diagnosis. I hope he begins to realise how serious this is and makes some changes before it’s too late. All the best OP .