Aortic Aneurysm: Frequently Asked Questions
What is an AORTIC ANEURYSM?
The aorta is the largest artery in the body. It starts at the heart and passes through the chest to the abdomen. Aortic aneurysms can develop anywhere along the aorta. Once an aneurysm has started to develop, it slowly expands in diameter over a period of several years. As an aneurysm grows larger, the wall of the artery thins. When the strength of the aneurysm wall becomes too weak the wall can break, resulting in a ruptured aneurysm. Blood loss from a ruptured aneurysm is usually large and rapid. ...
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An aortic aneurysm is a swelling of the main artery in the abdomen that is called the aorta. The aorta carries blood from the heart to the internal organs and legs and is normally about 2.5 cm (1 inch) in diameter.
Source: www.simondodds.com
An aortic aneurysm is a weakened section of the wall of the aorta that bulges outward. As the vessel is weakend it may burst. A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm cuases severe internal bleeding which is often fatal.
An aortic aneurysm (say “a-OR-tik AN-yuh-rih-zum”) is a bulge in a section of the aorta , the body’s main artery. The aorta carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Because the section with the aneurysm is overstretched, it can burst. If the aorta bursts, it can cause serious bleeding that can quickly lead to death. Aneurysms can form in any section of the aorta, but they are most common in the belly area ( abdominal aortic aneurysm ). ...
Source: www.svcmc.org
How is an Aortic Aneurysm detected?
Most people have an aneurysm diagnosed coincidentally when they are being examined for another problem (kidney trouble, gallstones for example) and this is why The Health Screen Clinic screening is vital.
Source: www.healthscreenclinic.com
What causes an aortic aneurysm?
Arteries have elastic walls and pulsate in time with the beat of the heart. Over many years the wear-and tear on the wall of an artery can cause it to weaken. If this happens the artery will increase in size because of the blood pressure inside. If the artery expands to more than twice its normal size it is called an aneurysm. Aortic aneurysms are most common in men over 60 years old. Men are more likely to have an aortic aneurysm if their father or grandfather had the same condition.
Source: www.simondodds.com
The wall of the aorta is normally very elastic. It can stretch and then shrink back as needed to adapt to blood flow. But some medical problems, such as high blood pressure and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), weaken the artery walls. These problems, along with the wear and tear that naturally occurs with aging, can result in a weak aortic wall that bulges outward.
Source: www.svcmc.org
What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the aorta which is the large artery traveling from your heart to your legs. This is usually diagnosed using a CT scan or ultrasound. An aneurysms can rupture causing significant bleeding and frequently death. Because of this, most aneurysms of significant size (more than 5 cm in diameter) should be repaired. Today's technology allows most of these aneurysms to be treated using stent grafts that are minimally invasive allowing for a quicker recovery with less pain.
Source: www.reshealth.org
Who is at risk for an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?
Individuals with the following characteristics are at risk for developing Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Males Age over 60 High blood pressure Family history of AAA Hardening of the arteries Smokers Lung problems Females and younger people can have aneurysms.
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What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)?
An aortic aneurysm is a bulging or "ballooning" that forms in a weakened area of the aorta, the large artery that exits from the heart and carries blood to the rest of the body and to the other major arteries. An abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs in the part of the aorta in the abdomen, usually below the kidneys. Abdominal aortic aneurysms can sometimes leak or rupture, resulting in serious bleeding and possibly death.
Source: www.fda.gov
An AAA is a localized dilatation of the abdominal aorta greater than 3 cm caused by a degenerative process or the aortic wall, such as arteriosclerosis.
Source: www.peninsulaultrasound.com
Can Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm be prevented?
Unfortunately abdominal aneurysms are also highly hereditary and should be detected before they can rupture.
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Who is at the greatest risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Most men, if they are going to develop an aneurysm, will show some sign of this by age 65. Women in general are six times less likely than men to develop an aortic aneurysm. Aortic aneurysms are the third most common cause of sudden death in the UK
Source: www.healthscreenclinic.com
What treatment is required for an aortic aneurysm?
An operation to replace the damaged aorta is the only effective treatment that will prevent the aneurysm from leaking. Once an aneurysm has increased to more than 5.5 cm in diameter then the risk of a leak becomes significant and surgery should be considered. The operation involves replacing the affected part of the aorta with an artificial, woven, plastic bypass graft. The operation to repair an aortic aneurysm is a major undertaking and also carries significant risks. ...
Source: www.simondodds.com
How do you diagnose an aortic aneurysm?
Many aortic aneurysms do not cause any symptoms and are only diagnosed during examinations or tests for other conditions. You can look for aortic aneurysms deliberately and this is called screening ( Aortic Screening ). An examination of the abdomen by an experienced doctor is usually all that is required to diagnose an aortic aneurysm. The exact size of an aortic aneurysm can be measured quite easily using an ultrasound machine. ...
Source: www.simondodds.com
What is the significance of an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
A An abdominal aortic aneurysm is an enlarged segment of the lower aorta, the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The enlarged or ballooned segment occurs commonly below the arteries that lead to the kidneys. The normal aorta is 2 – 3 centimeters (about ¾ to 1¼ inches) in diameter. An aneurysm is present when the aorta is twice the normal size. Aneurysms less than 5 centimeters in diameter are usually followed by observation because growth rates are slow and risk of rupture is low. ...
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What will happen if I need an operation on my aortic aneurysm?
The operation should be done by a qualified vascular surgeon who specialises in this type of surgery and requires a full (general) anaesthetic. During the operation the aorta is exposed through an incision in the tummy and the damaged part replaced with an arterial graft. After the operation it is usual to spend some time in the intensive care unit for close monitoring and the average stay in hospital is about 10 days. ...
Source: www.simondodds.com
What are the symptoms of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)?
/4 of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)s are have no symptoms and are only found on routine examinations. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)’s are often referred to as a "silent killer" because rupture may occur before diagnosis. Possible symptoms include: pulsating abdominal mass low back, flank, abdominal and groin
Source: www.peninsulaultrasound.com
What are the complications of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)?
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)s are the 13th leading cause of death in the United States Half of all persons with untreated abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) die of rupture within five years Aneurysms that have a diameter of 5 cm or are growing at a rapid rate and have a significant risk of rupture.
Source: www.peninsulaultrasound.com
How is aortic aneurysm diagnosed?
Aneurysms are often diagnosed by chance during exams or tests done for other reasons. In some cases, they are found during a screening test for aneurysms. Screening tests help your doctor look for a certain disease or condition before any symptoms appear. Experts recommend screening tests for aneurysms for men between the ages of 65 and 75 who have ever smoked. These men are more likely to have an aneurysm than are women or nonsmoking men. ...
Source: www.svcmc.org
What is an aortic dissection? How is it different from an aneurysm?
An aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition that occurs at a rate of about 3 cases per 100,000 people per year. It involves a tearing away of the innermost lining of the aorta. It is not unlike when you put on an old winter coat, but as you slide your arm into the sleeve your fingers catch a tear in the sleeve’s lining, leading your arm into the space between the inner lining and the outer layer of the coat sleeve. ...
Source: www.massgeneral.org
An aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition that occurs at a rate of about three cases per 100,000 people per year. It involves a tearing away of the innermost lining of the aorta. It is not unlike when you put on an old winter coat, but as you slide your arm into the sleeve your fingers catch a tear in the sleeve’s lining, leading your arm into the space between the inner lining and the outer layer of the coat sleeve. ...
Source: www.massgeneral.org
What will happen if I have an aortic aneurysm and I do nothing about it?
An aortic aneurysm will slowly increase in size . The bigger an aortic aneurysm gets the more likely the wall of the aorta will fail and the blood will leak out (haemorrhage). A leaking aortic aneurysm is a very serious, life-threatening situation and one in ten people survive this complication. The only chance of survival is an emergency operation but many patients do not reach a vascular surgeon in time!
Source: www.simondodds.com
What will my doctor do if my thoracic aortic aneurysm is not large enough to require surgery?
When an aneurysm is not large enough that you need surgery, your doctor will treat you with medications to control your blood pressure and heart rate, in order to reduce the force of your blood against the wall of the aorta. The size of your aorta will be followed closely with repeated CT scan , MRI scans , or echocardiograms (ultrasound examination of the heart), to monitor for any growth. If the aneurysm grows large enough in size, surgery may then be recommend (see above).
Source: www.massgeneral.org
When an aneurysm is not large enough that you need surgery, your doctor will treat you with medications to control your blood pressure and heart rate, in order to reduce the force of your blood against the wall of the aorta. The size of your aorta will be followed closely with repeated CT scan, MRI scans or echocardiograms (ultrasound examination of the heart) to monitor for any growth. If the aneurysm grows large enough in size, surgery may then be recommend.
Source: www.massgeneral.org
My uncle and I both have a thoracic aortic aneurysm. Will others in my family also have an aneurysm?
Many patients with ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms at younger ages (30s, 40s, 50s) have Marfan syndrome or a bicuspid aortic valve as the cause. However, there are other people who have aneurysms at a young age and it appears to run in their family. A number of such families have been studied and found to have a genetic abnormality that accounts for the aortic aneurysms. This is now called a familial thoracic aortic aneurysm syndrome . ...
Source: www.massgeneral.org
Many patients with ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms at younger ages (30s, 40s and 50s) have Marfan syndrome or a bicuspid aortic valve as the cause. However, there are other people who have aneurysms at a young age, and it appears to run in their family. A number of such families have been studied and found to have a genetic abnormality that accounts for the aortic aneurysms. This is now called a familial thoracic aortic aneurysm syndrome. ...
Source: www.massgeneral.org
Can I have some sort of stent instead of regular surgery to fix my aortic aneurysm?
In certain circumstances, and for certain aneurysms that do not involve the ascending aorta , there is a new technique known as stent graft repair . It is the equivalent of a minimally invasive approach for aneurysm repair. Such stent-graft procedures can only be performed at select medical centers by physicians specifically trained in this field. In addition, these stent-grafts can only be carried out when the patient’s aortic anatomy is appropriate; if not, a standard surgical procedure will have to be performed. ...
Source: www.massgeneral.org
In certain circumstances, and for certain aneurysms that do not involve the ascending aorta, there is a new technique known as stent graft repair. It is the equivalent of a minimally invasive approach for aneurysm repair. Such stent-graft procedures can only be performed at select medical centers by physicians specifically trained in this field. In addition, these stent-grafts can only be carried out when the patient’s aortic anatomy is appropriate; if not, a standard surgical procedure will have to be performed. ...
Source: www.massgeneral.org
If I have surgery to fix my thoracic aortic aneurysm can the aneurysm come back? Will I still need to take medication after surgery?
When a portion of the aorta is replaced surgically, we replace it with an artificial tube- graft . Therefore the aneurysm is removed and thus cannot recur in that location. In some instances, such as with some aneurysms of the ascending thoracic aorta , there is only one segment of the aorta that is abnormal so once that segment has been replaced the risk of aortic aneurysms forming elsewhere is only slight. ...
Source: www.massgeneral.org
