This can lead to serious problems if not treated promptly. Most commonly, an aortic aneurysm develops in the aorta just above the place where it crosses the heart. This is known as the sinus sleeve, and it’s the area where the arteries of the head meet the aorta (the Circle of Willis). When left untreated, an aortic aneurysm may eventually burst, leading to severe internal bleeding, or even death.
Risk factors
People who are at risk of developing an aortic aneurysm are those who have had a previous aneurysm rupture. This is usually due to inherited gene mutations that cause weakness in the aortic wall. It can also be caused by smoking, high blood pressure, or a family history of the condition. If you’re at risk of developing an aortic aneurysm, your doctor may recommend avoiding exposure to the elements, since this can make your aneurysm rupture more likely. Check with your doctor to see what precautions are necessary for you to take.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of an aortic aneurysm is an expanding abdominal girth due to the increased size of the artery. Other symptoms include;- sudden onset of severe back pain- generalized weakness- dizziness or fainting spells- shortness of breath- fatigue- persistent cough- blood spots or clots in the stool (guaiac positive stool)- a sudden decrease of urine output (risk of renal failure)- black, bloody or cloudy urine (risk of renal failure)- severe headaches- nerve dysfunction, such as numbness and tingling (specifically in the fingers)- limb paralysis- loss of appetite- weight loss
In most cases, the first sign of an aortic aneurysm is an expanding waistline, which can be attributed to the increased blood flow surrounding the enlarged artery. Because the condition is often asymptomatic, it is commonly discovered when there is a complication from the lack of blood flow to the vital organs. If you suspect that you might have an aortic aneurysm, be sure to get it checked out by a doctor. They can perform a simple blood test to determine if you are at risk. However, if the aneurysm is not treated promptly, it may become life-threatening, requiring surgery.
Treatments For Aortic Aneurysm
If your doctor suspects that you have an aortic aneurysm, they will likely recommend seeing a vascular surgeon for evaluation and treatment. The main objective of the surgery is to repair and/or replace the damaged section of the aorta. In most cases, this can be successfully done with standard open heart surgery, with the patient undergoing general anesthesia. While there is no approved drug therapy for aortic aneurysm, doctors often prescribe blood pressure medication to lower the patient’s blood pressure before the surgery. After the surgery, the patient is monitored in the intensive care unit (ICU) for several days before being discharged. Recovery is typically smooth and uneventful.
Although open heart surgery is the traditional treatment for aortic aneurysm, a few doctors are performing minimally invasive procedures to treat this condition. These are done under local anesthesia, or occasionally general anesthesia, and typically last for about an hour and a half. The main advantage of these procedures is that they are less invasive, causing less trauma to the patient. The downside is that they are more expensive, and they require hospitalization for several days, usually following the procedure.
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Risks Associated With Aortic Aneurysm
Just as in most cases of surgery, there are inherent risks associated with aortic aneurysm surgery. These risks include, but are not limited to;- anesthesia complications- infection- injury to the aorta- injury to other vital organs- blood clots or thrombosis- post-surgical bleeding- organ problems (particularly from excessive blood loss)- nerve or spinal cord damage- respiratory problems (particularly for elderly patients)- acute kidney injury- heart attack or heart failure
In order to determine the necessity of the surgery for aortic aneurysm, the doctor must evaluate the risks and benefits for the patient. It is not always necessary to have surgery, but it depends on the patient’s condition. Even if the condition does not require immediate surgery, it is still advisable to get the operation as soon as possible to avoid further complications.