Why is aortic aneurysm dangerous?

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

It is not uncommon for people to notice nothing until serious complications appear.

What is aortic aneurysm

This is an abnormal expansion of the Aortic aneurysm / Mayo Clinic of the walls of the largest vessel in the human body, which departs from the heart and goes through the chest into the abdominal cavity. Protrusion can occur in any part of the vessel, it will look like a pouch or spindle. Such changes impair blood flow. In extreme cases, the aneurysm can rupture: then the person will die.

Usually the disease appears Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm / Medscape in people over 50 years old, and it occurs in men twice as often as in women. Only after 80 years does the ratio become the same.

What is aneurysm

Doctors distinguish Aortic aneurysm / Mayo Clinic into two main types of disease:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm. The part of the vessel that runs inside the abdomen expands.
• Thoracic aortic aneurysm. The section located in the chest is enlarged.

Sometimes an Aortic aneurysm / Mayo Clinic aneurysm can occur between the thoracic and abdominal regions, in which case it is called thoracoabdominal.

Why does aortic aneurysm appear?

The exact causes of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm / Medscape disease are unknown. But doctors suggest Thoracic aortic aneurysm / Mayo Clinic that the likelihood of any type of aneurysm increases in the following cases:

• Atherosclerosis. Because of it, plaques appear on the vessel, which make the aorta less elastic. Therefore, with an increase in blood pressure, an aneurysm may appear.
• High blood pressure. The vessel walls are damaged and weakened.
• Inflammation of blood vessels. The aorta loses its elasticity. This happens, for example, with giant cell arteritis or Takayasu syndrome.
• Damage to the aortic valve. Through it, blood leaves the heart, therefore, due to acquired or congenital pathology, the pressure on the vessel walls will be uneven. As a result, a thoracic aortic aneurysm may develop.
• Infection. Syphilis, salmonellosis, and other bacterial or fungal infections can damage the walls of the vessel.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Because of it, breathing becomes difficult, heart problems develop, blood flow is disturbed and blood pressure rises.
• Cardiac ischemia. The walls of blood vessels are damaged and thinned.
• Heredity. In some genetic diseases, such as Marfan syndrome, the structure of the connective tissue is modified. In such cases, the walls of the aorta are initially weak and therefore easily change their structure.
• Aneurysms of other vessels. For example, the popliteal or femoral artery. Then the risk increases that similar abnormalities will occur in the aorta.
• Injuries. In rare cases, an aneurysm may appear after a fall from a height or a car accident due to direct damage to the vessel.

What are the symptoms of aortic aneurysm

Very often, a person does not feel anything until the aneurysm becomes large or complications arise. As the vessel dilates, the likelihood of symptoms increases. The latter depend on the type of aneurysm. With thoracoabdominal, there are signs of both types of pathology.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm

The bulge can grow very slowly or remain small for many years. But in some people, the aneurysm expands rapidly, leading to signs of illness. Here they are Abdominal aortic aneurysm / Mayo Clinic:

• Constant dull pain in the abdomen or side.
• Back pain.
• Pulsation in the navel.

Thoracic aortic aneurysm

Symptoms of Thoracic aortic aneurysm / Mayo Clinic are as follows:

• chest or back pain;
• cough;
• hoarseness;
• labored breathing.

Why is aortic aneurysm dangerous?

The larger the protrusion becomes, the greater the risk of rupture or dissection of the aortic wall. This is a deadly complication in which severe internal bleeding begins. Because of it, 65% of people die Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm / Medscape even before they begin to help.

Also, with aneurysm, blood flows unevenly through the vessel, forming vortexes, and therefore clots are formed, and then thrombi Abdominal aortic aneurysm / Mayo Clinic. If they break off, they can block another vessel and block blood flow. For example, to the legs, kidneys or abdominal organs.

What to do if there are signs of aortic aneurysm

First you need to see a therapist or cardiologist. The doctor will order an examination to help confirm the diagnosis. These can be Abdominal aortic aneurysm / Mayo Clinic:

• Ultrasound. Depending on the type of aneurysm, the Thoracic aortic aneurysm / Mayo Clinic examines either the abdominal cavity or the heart.
• Computed tomography or MRI. These methods help the doctor see the exact position of the aneurysm, its size and structural features. Typically, a contrast agent is injected into a vein before a scan is taken to get more accurate images of the aorta.
• Angiography. Also use Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Workup / Medscape contrast agent and take X-rays.
• ECG. You need an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Workup / Medscape to test your heart.

How is aortic aneurysm treated?

The pills won't help. The vessel can be restored only with the help of an operation. It is done as planned or urgently if an aneurysm rupture occurs.

There are Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Treatment & Management / Medscape two types of surgical interventions. The doctor will select the appropriate one, taking into account the size and location of the aneurysm, the age of the patient, and concomitant diseases.

1. Open operation

A person's abdomen or chest is cut open, the section of the aorta with the aneurysm is removed, and a synthetic tube is sewn on instead. The operation is very traumatic: recovery takes about a month for Abdominal aortic aneurysm / Mayo Clinic.

2. Endovascular surgery

An Abdominal aortic aneurysm / Mayo Clinic thin tube (catheter) is inserted through the femoral artery and pushed all the way to the aorta. Attached to the end of the device is a compressed graft, a synthetic fabric with a metal mesh. It is placed in the desired part of the aorta, where it is expanded and fixed. This will strengthen the aneurysm and prevent it from bursting.

Mortality after open surgery on the thoracic and abdominal aorta reaches 4% Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm / Medscape. After endovascular intervention, the survival rate is higher, but over time, the graft may weaken. Then Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm / Medscape will need a second operation.