Sometimes When We Experience Pain Or Discomfort, “Silent” Condition

Home , Abdominal aorta, Aortic aneurysm, Aortic dissection, Thoracic aortic aneurysm

AboutAneurysms

Sometimes when we experience pain or discomfort, “silent” condition. If you are experiencing symptoms it’s difficult to know if we should contact our of an aortic aneurysm, you should speak up and con- healthcare provider. Most aortic aneurysms do not tact your healthcare provider immediately, or call 911. show symptoms until they are large and develop a complication, so they are often referred to as a HEARTCARING What is an aortic aneurysm? Abdominal aortic aneurysms occur in the section of The aorta is the main artery of the body that supplies the aorta that passes through the abdomen. oxygenated blood to your heart, lungs and brain. The exact cause of this is This artery runs from the heart through the center of unknown, but tobacco use, the chest and abdomen. atherosclerosis (hardening of An aortic aneurysm is an enlargement of this main ar - arteries) and infection can tery that occurs in a weakened portion of the artery’s contribute to abdominal aortic wall. An aneurysm occurs when a segment of the ves - aneurysms. Tears in the wall sel becomes weakened and expands. The pressure of of the aorta are the main the blood flowing through the vessel creates a bulge complication of abdominal at the weak spot, just like an overinflated inner tube aortic aneurysm. This could can cause a bulge in a tire. The bulge usually starts lead to internal bleeding. small and grows as the pressure continues. Thoracic aortic aneurysms An aneurysm may occasionally cause pain which is a occur in sections of the aorta in sign of impending rupture. When the rupture occurs, the chest. This is often caused it causes internal bleeding. Because the abdominal by atherosclerosis, a hardening aorta is such a large vessel, a ruptured abdominal of the arteries that damages the aneurysm is a life-threatening event. artery’s walls and causes them to bulge. Fortunately, not all aneurysms rupture right away. Many grow very slowly and cause no symptoms or Thoracic aortic aneurysms can problems for many years. When detected in time, increase health risks for atheroscle - most aneurysms can be electively repaired with an rotic plaque, a clot forming in the site of the operation so they do not rupture. aneurysm, aortic dissection (tearing of the layers of the aorta) and aneurysm rupture. Aneurysms are about two-thirds more common in men than in women, and most aneurysms occur in Thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysms occur in the people aged 55 years or older. The number of lower part of the thoracic aorta and the upper part aneurysms in the United States is increasing as the of the abdominal aorta. Causes are much like both population increases and ages. thoracic and abdominal aneurysms, including hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of Signs and symptoms fatty substances, plaque and other elements. Most aortic aneurysms do not show symptoms until they are large and develop a complication. When one Surgical treatment options arises, the patient usually experiences severe pain. Do If the thoracic aortic aneurysm is large or symptoms not remain silent if you experience the following are overbearing, surgical treatment is necessary. The symptoms. Call your healthcare provider or call 911 section of the vessel can be surgically removed and one if you experience: replaced with a graft of artificial material. If the I aneurysm is close enough to the aortic valve, valve Chest pain or discomfort replacement may also be recommended. G I Pain in the jaw, back or upper neck Aside from open aneurysm repair, there is a newer N I Difficulty breathing (this maybe affected procedure called an endovascular aneurysm repair I by position) (EVAR, TEVAR, TA-EVAR). Endovascular surgery is R I Trouble swallowing performed using a catheter through a small incision in A the groin. The catheter then guides the stent-graft I Hoarseness

C through the blood vessels to the site of the aneurysm. I Abnormal changes in heartbeat or murmurs T Nonsurgical treatment options Usually, aortic aneurysms are detected by ultrasound, In cases where the aneurysm is small and asympto - R MRI or CT scans. matic, it’s likely that a doctor will recommend moni - A There are two main types of aortic aneurysms: toring the aneurysm through CT or MRI scans and E medication for blood pressure or high cholesterol. I Abdominal aortic aneurysms H I Thoracic aortic aneurysms