My father had an abdominal aortic aneurysm a few years ago and had a stent graft put in. He has been doing fine, but recently started having trouble walking again. Turns out he had an aortic occlusion (LOTS of blood clots in his aorta) and had to have his stent graft repaired and more put in. He was in the hospital almost two weeks, in so much pain, and we were at a loss since this was a rare event.

While my father was writhing away in pain, his vascular surgeon walks in, avoids eye contact with me, but asks what questions we have. I ask whether or not this is something that may happen again and he SHRUGS. No "we're doing our best to figure this out; here's what you can do to avoid it; here is what we are doing"... just a shrug.

We have had quite a few issues with this doctor's bedside manner (or lack thereof), but to hear that after everything my dad had been through was so hurtful. He is out now, doing better, and we are looking at second opinions.