Ascending aortic repair dacron graft thumping
Hello, I am almost a year out from an ascending aortic root replacement and hemiarch repair. I am on 50mg of metropolol twice a day as well.
I wanted to follow up with people on here as I am having a thumping pounding in my chest in the middle of my sternum (not my actual heart). If I hold my breath or take a full breath I will then feel a knocking of what I am assuming is the graft against my chest going with my heartbeat. (Prior to a few months this was happening every second of the day with my heartbeat.
I was told this is because the Dacron graft itself is noncompliant/cannot expand like your natural aorta.
For those who have had surgery /similar surgery, are any of you experiencing this? Do you still have this years later or did it go away completely? Did you never have this?
I am hoping to get more answers.
Any information is appreciated. Thank you.