Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/103743
Still going strong "I was very, very tired. I became unstable on my feet," says Marvin Davis of Springfield, describing how he felt one day last July. "His color was terrible and his eyes were very glassy and I just said, 'I am calling 911,'" says his wife, Anna, who thought Marvin was having a stroke. An ambulance transported Marvin to the Cox South Emergency and Trauma Center. When the results came back from his CT scan and sonogram it was determined that Marvin had an aortic aneurysm that was starting to rupture. Dr. Randy Mullins, vascular surgeon, explains that an aortic aneurysm is a widening of the aorta, the main artery in the body. They most commonly occur in the abdomen, which is where Marvin's started. "Half of people whose aneurysm ruptures die before they are able to get to the hospital," Dr. Randy Mullins says Dr. Mullins, emphasizing the seriousness of Marvin's situation. Dr. Mullins and his team performed an aortic endograft procedure. Aortic Specialty Center Vascular surgeons, emergency physicians, anesthesiologists, critical care specialists and interventional radiologists are all working as a team to take care of and treat patients with aortic problems. Medicare Part B covers a one-time aortic aneurysm screening if you have a family history or if you are a male ages 65 to 75 and have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your lifetime. You must receive a referral during your "Welcome to Medicare" preventive physical. Men with a family history should get screened at age 50, because if their father or brother has had an aneurysm, the risk for developing one is 50 percent, says Dr. Mullins. Women are less likely, but can still develop an aneurysm. For information about screenings, call 269-WHVC. Listen to Marvin and Anna tell their story at coxhealth.com/marvin. "During this procedure a small incision is made in the groin, and a catheter is inserted in the artery that leads to the aorta. The endograft is inserted through the catheter and placed on the damaged section of the artery," explains Dr. Mullins. Today, Marvin feels great. "I would recommend anyone who has any unusual symptoms to call 911. Because if we had waited I wouldn't be here today," says Marvin. Aneurysms have no or very few symptoms, and do not give a lot of warning until they are about to rupture or are rupturing, says Dr. Mullins. "If you are at risk to have an aneurysm, the best thing is to get an ultrasound screening, which is an easy test," according to Dr. Mullins. Anna and Marvin Davis coxhealth.com 15