Bicuspid Aortic Valve and Aneurysms - Ten Years Later

Doug in September 2004

Ten Years Ago, in 2004

Ten years ago, on September 20, 2004, Doug Grieshop died when his aorta ruptured. He had an undiagnosed bicuspid aortic valve and an aortic aneurysm in his chest.

Eighteen months earlier, Doug went to the ER with chest pain. Nothing was found then. It was left for the coroner, after his death, to find the scar of an old tear, next to the rupture site.

A weakened, diseased aorta may "hang on" for some time, because it has an outer layer designed to be stronger than the others. For Doug, that outer layer held on for a year and a half. When it broke, there was no time to save him. He was instantly gone.

What would happen ten years later, in 2014?

If Doug went to the ER, would they still check him for a heart attack, find he did not have one, and stop there?

Or would they go further? Would they find his bicuspid aortic valve, his aorta bulging dangerously?

Would today's technology be able to "see" the small tear in his aorta? If not, would they still take his chest pain and aneurysm seriously?

Would they ask him about his family history? His uncle died in the same way. Family who saw them say that in death they both looked like they had "exploded". A horrifying memory.

Would they refer him for surgery in time?

 Ten years later, would someone save Doug?

In some communities in the United States, we know what happens today. Some aortic emergencies are being found in time to save lives. But we hear of the dying. Still. In 2014.

For one man, it happened like this.

Always healthy and active, he arrives in the ER. He tells them about a feeling of pressure and burning in his chest. He is short of breath. They check for a heart attack. Negative.

They know there is another killer in the chest - pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung). They rule that out too.

They keep him in the hospital, continuing to speculate. The family hears words like acid reflux/heart burn. They even hear about sleep apnea! Eventually they hear he has a bicuspid aortic valve that might need surgery "some day".

Although BAV is a red flag for aneurysm in the chest, finding it did not raise the alarm. Was it because there is a persistent impression that bicuspid aortic valves are relatively harmless?

For this man and his family, many hours went by, spent guessing about conditions that are not immediately deadly.

At times, he felt better. But all of a sudden, something terrible happened inside. At that moment, it was already too late. Many hours were spent desperately trying to save him. It was impossible. Time had run out.

He had bled massively inside his chest. The respirator would continue to breathe for him. His brain was dead.

Is this the best we can do, 10 long years later?

There are many unanswered questions and conflicting guidelines for those with bicuspid aortic valve.

We know we need more answers.

However, we ask for those with BAV what we ask for everyone else. We ask that this often varied condition be viewed with respect for its potential deadliness.

Please do not forget that the diseased aorta is right up there with heart attack and pulmonary embolism.

It is a killer.

There are little children growing up without Daddy,

 grieving wives, heart broken parents.

 Brothers and sisters wondering if this will strike them also.

For everyone with a bicuspid aortic valve

 who will never have an aortic emergency,

 we rejoice. 

But we are called to speak

 for those vulnerable to tragedy.

His daughter was born 4 months after Doug's death

Doug's children in 2010

Their children should not grow up without them.

And their family members should not live in the shadow of fear

 that some day this could happen to them also.

We are
continuing to tell their stories,

raising awareness of the danger,

while living

in a climate of hope.

- the Bicuspid Aortic Foundation