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What Causes Breathlessness, Chest Pain And Hoarseness Despite Negative Test Results?
Question: My husband is 60 years old. He has an artificial aortic(?) heart valve. He has been having symptoms for over a year - hoarseness, shortness of breath, chest pain radiating to his back and down his arm. He went to the ER 2 times last week for worsening of these symptoms (said it was the worst pain he'd ever had and he didn't think he was going to survive). Standard tests were run - no sign of heart attack, no blood clot, clear arteries. Physician felt it must be pleurisy, sent him home with pain medication and steroids. He is home again this afternoon, lots of pain. In reading his results of various tests, one said he has an enlarged aorta, measuring 4.6 mm. After googling symptoms with this, this includes the one odd symptom that hasn't fit anywhere else - hoarseness. What do I need to do? He doesn't want to go back to the ER but he is in a lot of pain.
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that it is important to exclude a possible aortic aneurysm or a dissection considering his symptoms.
For this reason, I would recommend performing an aortic angio CT scan to examine better the aorta walls.
Considering his symptoms (hoarseness, chest pain and shortness of breath), I would also recommend consulting with an ENT specialist for a physical exam of the vocal cords.
You should know that an aortic aneurysm can compress the laringeal recurens nerve, which passes nearby, thus leading to this clinical situation and vocal cord dysfunction.
You should discuss with his doctor on the above tests.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that it is important to exclude a possible aortic aneurysm or a dissection considering his symptoms.
For this reason, I would recommend performing an aortic angio CT scan to examine better the aorta walls.
Considering his symptoms (hoarseness, chest pain and shortness of breath), I would also recommend consulting with an ENT specialist for a physical exam of the vocal cords.
You should know that an aortic aneurysm can compress the laringeal recurens nerve, which passes nearby, thus leading to this clinical situation and vocal cord dysfunction.
You should discuss with his doctor on the above tests.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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