What is the life expectancy in a person having a heart tumor wrapped around the aorta?
Patient: My girlfriend is 20 years old and was just diagnosed with a benign inoperable heart tumor wrapped around her aorta... The tumor is apparently imbedded in the walls of her heart... The doctor said she was a ticking time bomb but she also mentioned something about ex vivo surgery.... She has seen 3 doctors all of which say inoperable .... How long does she have to live? If we can find a doctor to operate- what are the chances she survives the surgery? Doctor: The only curative option that seems remotely possible in your case is a heart transplant and that too I cannot be sure since i dont have all the reports in hand. But it will be worthwhile considering and discussing this option with your treating doctor and preferably a heart transplant surgeon. Otherwise, there seems to be no option and she will die with progression of the disease. Ex-vivo surgery is where they take out the heart for a short while, remove the tumor, repair the heart and then put it back. Its a distant possibility considering the extent of the disease.