Ive got some ideas about that, Morgan said, tensing as he waited to see how cooperative Ayres was going to be.

Ayres snorted and waved for Morgan to follow him out of the room. Why am I not surprised to hear that? Lets hear it.

We put him on beta blockers to lessen the pressure on those arterial walls and then we do an angiogram. Well be able to keep an eye on any place a leak is even threatening and pull back if necessary. If we work together on it, we can be in and out before we do any more harm. Then we can get Vincenzo over to vascular services and let them take over long term treatment of his condition. It took Morgan a second to realize they were heading into the waiting room.

The second they walked in, a young woman sitting on the couch stood up. She was a sweet-faced woman in her late twenties who had nearly been enveloped by the threadbare sprung sofa in the waiting room. The surgery is done already? She looked up at the clock on the waiting room wall and then back at Ayres.

No. Were going to postpone the surgery for at least another day or two. Dr. Stark here will explain why. Ayres gestured at Morgan.

Morgan dragged a straight back chair from the corner closer to where Rohrs wife stood. He sat and motioned for her to sit back down as well. Ms. Rohr, he began.

Sofia, please. she interrupted.

Sofia, then. Your husband has a rare condition called fibromuscular dysplasia. It causes a weakening of the arterial walls.

Sofia frowned.

He cast about in his mind for a way to simplify the explanation. Its why Vincenzo is developing these aneurysms. We need to be extra careful in how we fix this aneurysm and then we can treat Vincenzo for the underlying condition so he doesnt get another one.

Sofia looked up at Morgan, big brown eyes both hopeful and worried. So Vincenzo will be all right? The couples daughter sat at her feet, stacking blocks on the coffee table.

Ayres cut in before Morgan could answer. Hed been standing near the doorway, checking his phone while Morgan explained Vincenzos diagnosis and how they planned to go forward. We think so. Vincenzo is stable for the moment. Well start him on beta blockers. We should be able to go in with an angiogram to fix the aneurysm once all the dust settles. Meanwhile, we've sent him for a CTA to confirm the diagnosis.