Three Heart Surgeries in Six Weeks: Thaddeus and the Team that Wouldn’t Give Up

Thaddeus was in excruciating back pain in December 2021 and knew he needed help. But he had no idea that help would come in the form of three major aortic surgeries, all within six weeks.

After trying to manage the pain on his own, Thaddeus went to the emergency department at Emory University Hospital. The team did a thorough workup, including imaging tests. He was surprised when a heart surgeon came to his bedside.

 

"I'm Going to Die Here."

Brad Leshnower, MD, explained that imaging tests revealed a dissection (tear) in the inner wall of Thaddeus' aorta. The aorta is the body's largest artery (16-18 inches long) and is candy cane-shaped. It begins just above the heart, curves over the top of the heart, and extends down through the chest wall and abdomen.

Sometimes, doctors can treat aortic dissections by managing the patient's blood pressure with medicine. But Thaddeus' blood pressure was too high for that. "When Dr. Leshnower told me it was my aorta, I thought, 'This is it. I'm going to die here,'" says Thaddeus, who was only 37. "But then he said he could repair it surgically and that he wouldn't even need to open me up. That gave me some hope."

Dr. Leshnower is one of only about 10 heart surgeons in the U.S. with specialized training in both open and endovascular aortic surgery. This dual expertise allows him to tailor the best treatment approach for each patient. When feasible, Dr. Leshnower opts for endovascular techniques, which are minimally invasive and use only small incisions. They lead to less blood loss and faster recoveries.

Dr. Leshnower repaired Thaddeus's aorta with an endovascular technique that involved inserting a small, fabric-lined tube (stent graft). The stent reinforced the weakened area and redirected blood flow. Thaddeus recovered for a few days at the hospital and went home feeling much better.

Ten days later, though, Thaddeus was back in the ED with the same symptoms. The stent looked fine, but the aorta itself was still breaking down. "We began to think that Thaddeus likely had a genetic disorder called Marfan syndrome," says Dr. Leshnower, who is the director of thoracic aortic surgery and co-director of the Emory aortic program. "Marfan syndrome affects the body’s connective tissues, including heart structures. His aorta was disintegrating—it couldn't hold the stent."

Aortic dissection occurs more frequently in people with Marfan syndrome than in the general population. The condition also can cause other heart-related issues and affect the eyes and bones. Thaddeus' situation was made worse by the fact that he had been diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure three years earlier (unrelated to Marfan syndrome). His blood pressure, which was already high, was spiraling out of control.

After careful consideration, Dr. Leshnower ultimately decided that open replacement of the descending thoracic aorta was the safest treatment for Thaddeus. Therefore, he performed surgery to remove the stent graft and replace the diseased aortic segment with a synthetic graft.

Thaddeus spent the next two weeks recovering at Emory University Hospital. All was well, until it wasn't.

"I'll never forget that morning—one of the nurses called me from the inpatient floor and said Thaddeus was bleeding internally. A chest X-ray showed that his entire left chest was full of blood," Dr. Leshnower says. "I knew we had to get him to the OR as soon as possible or he was going to die."

Thaddeus doesn't remember much about that day, but he does remember feeling overwhelmed and scared. Nurses, advanced practice providers, anesthesiologists and the entire surgical team worked quickly to get him and the surgical suite ready. It's a process that usually takes an hour, but Thaddeus was on the table in 15 minutes.

Dr. Leshnower opened Thaddeus's chest cavity and removed two liters of blood. He carefully examined the aorta and graft before closing Thaddeus back up.

"The graft itself looked fine, but what remained of Thaddeus's native aorta was breaking down," Dr. Leshnower says. "That night, I lost a lot of sleep thinking about how I could definitively fix this life-threatening problem. By the next morning, I'd decided to replace the ascending aorta and aortic arch.” It would be a critical and complex surgery, as these structures are responsible for providing the blood supply to the brain.

 

"Forever Grateful"

Dr. Leshnower performed the surgery that day, and it was a success. "Emory Heart & Vascular is a high-volume center for aortic dissection repair, but Thaddeus' situation presented unique challenges," Dr. Leshnower says. "He was on dialysis, for starters. And he had three major surgeries within six weeks. That's extremely rare."

Dr. Leshnower performed the surgery that day, and it was a success. "Emory Heart & Vascular is a high-volume center for aortic dissection repair, but Thaddeus' situation presented unique challenges," Dr. Leshnower says. "He was on dialysis, for starters. And he had three major surgeries within six weeks. That's extremely rare."

After several months of recovery in the hospital, Thaddeus went home to focus on regaining his strength and mobility with help from physical therapy. "There were times I wanted to give up, but then I would think about my daughters. I couldn't do that to them," he says.

Three years later, Thaddeus is still awed by Dr. Leshnower's surgical expertise. "As far as I'm concerned, Dr. Leshnower performed miracles on me," Thaddeus says. "I am forever grateful. I told him, 'If I ever win the lottery, I am going to pay for your next vacation!'"

Thaddeus also expressed immense gratitude to the nurses who cared for him during his long hospitalization. “They went above and beyond to make sure that I was comfortable and listened to,” he explains. “I felt like they were my aunts or my sisters. We joked around a lot, and they took care of me. Aside from Dr. Leshnower replacing my aorta, I think that's what meant the most."

Thaddeus's extraordinary journey highlights the highly specialized care available at Emory Heart & Vascular. Dr. Leshnower played a central role. But the entire team saved Thaddeus' life and kept him on the path to recovery.

Thaddeus eventually had genetic testing to confirm his Marfan diagnosis. His daughters may one day do the same, since early diagnosis and treatment can prevent life-threatening complications.

Today, Thaddeus is thriving and has routine checkups at Emory Heart & Vascular, where Dr. Leshnower and his nurse practitioner monitor him for any new problems. "Caring for people with Marfan syndrome requires a team of doctors, nurses and genetic counselors to provide specialized treatment," he says. "We are their care team for life."

Thaddeus still has end-stage kidney failure and has to get dialysis three times a week. But things are looking up. He can do "pretty much anything in moderation," including light exercise and enjoying movie nights and foodie outings with his older daughter, Zyan. He is also pursuing a career in cybersecurity, a field that offers remote work flexibility for his dialysis schedule.

These last few years have been very challenging for Thaddeus, but he knows he has a lot to live for. "My medical issues have changed me forever, and I can't do everything I want to anymore," he says. “But I’ve started to look to the future. I think I'm doing pretty well."