Aortic Aneurysms

The patient experiences an aortic anuerysm when a bulge or balloon occurs in the walls of the aortic artery. As most of us know, the aorta is the main artery in the heart which carries all the blood out of the heart and into the body. The aorta travels from the heart into the chest (thoracic aorta) and down to the abdomen region (the abdominal aorta). The most common place for an aneurysm to develop is in the abdominal aorta.

The main cause of aortic aneurysms is something known as arteriosclerosis. This condition occurs when fatty deposits build up in the walls of the arteries, making them weaker and less elastic. Major factors that can contribute to arteriosclerosis are smoking, high blood pressure, and heredity. Some other factors that may cause aortic aneurysms are trauma to the aorta or inflammation of the wall of the aorta.

Symptoms of an aortic aneurysm can go unnoticed for many years and vary depending on the type and location of the aneurysm. An abdominal aortic aneurysm include symptoms sych as a pulsating feeling in the abdomen, abdominal pain, or back pain. While a thoracic aortic aneurysm might include symptoms such as pain in the upper back, coughing and wheezing, a hoarse voice, or difficulty swallowing. If either type of aneurysm bursts, it would cause severe internal bleeding, which could lead to death.

The best way to recognize aortic aneurysms is a routine physical examination by your doctor. During this examination the doctor might request that a chest or abdominal x-ray be done. These x-rays and ultrasound scans are very useful in determining the exact location of the aneurysm.

There are several things that can be done to help reduce your chances of developing an aneurysm, such as, having regular medical check ups, having your blood pressure checked, not smoking, and eating healthy.

Small aneurysms have a low risk of bursting so they are normally just monitored by the doctor through regular visits. If surgery is needed, then the part of the aorta affected by the aneurysm is replaced with a synthetic graft.