An aneurysm is a balloon-like bulge in the wall of a weakened blood vessel. If the bulging stretches
the vessel wall too far, the vessel may burst.
The aorta is the artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. An aneurysm in the aorta is called an aortic aneurysm, which can result in death if it causes this main artery to burst and is not treated in time. An aortic aneurysm may be located in the chest and is known as a thoracic aneurysm. However, most are located below the kidneys in the lower stomach area and are called abdominal aneurysms.
An estimated 1.2 million people in the United States have an abdominal aortic aneurysm -- known as AAA -- which is the third leading cause of sudden death in men over the age of 60.
Why Choose St. Luke's for Treatment of an Aortic Aneurysm?
- AAA procedure eliminates surgery, general anesthesia. Our cardiologists were among the first to use a nonsurgical technique to treat high-risk patients for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. This minimally invasive procedure generally is performed under local, rather than general, anesthesia. The technique is useful for patients who cannot have surgery because their overall health would make it too dangerous, and it allows them to go home within 24 hours and return to normal activities sooner.
- Developing and researching the latest devices. Our physicians have been involved in the development and research of all commercial stent-graphs to treat thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms and are currently participating in four clinical trials of stent-graphs.
What Causes an Aneurysm?
Any condition that causes the walls of the arteries to weaken can lead to an aneurysm. Causes may include:
- atherosclerosis, a build-up of plaque in the arteries
- high blood pressure
- smoking
- deep wounds
- injuries
- infections
- congenital conditions
- inherited diseases, such as Marfan syndrome
What Are the Symptoms?
- shortness of breath
- a croaky or raspy voice
- backache
- pain in the left shoulder or between the shoulder blades.
- pain or tenderness in the stomach area
- an upset stomach or feel less hungry
How Are Aneurysms Diagnosed?
- physical exam
- basic chest or stomach x-ray
- ultrasound
- echocardiography
- radiological imaging, such as arteriography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CAT or CT) scanning
How Are Aneurysms Treated?
Treatment depends on the size and location of the aneurysm and a patient’s overall health. Aortic aneurysms in the upper chest are usually operated on right away. Depending on their size, aneurysms in the lower chest or the area below the stomach may be watched for varying periods. If an aneurysm becomes about 2 inches in diameter, continues to grow, or begins to cause symptoms, surgery may be needed to prevent bursting.
Treatment options include:
- Medications. Patients with smaller or stable aneurysms in the descending aorta or abdominal parts of the aorta may be prescribed medicine, especially a medicine like a beta-blocker that lowers blood pressure. Medicines that lower blood pressure relieve the stress on the aortic walls. They are especially useful when the risk of surgery may be greater than the risk of the aneurysm itself.
- Non-surgical repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The procedure uses a catheter to insert a device called a stent-graft. The stent-graft is placed within the artery at the site of the aneurysm and acts as a barrier between the blood and the diseased wall of the artery. The blood flows through the stent-graft, decreasing the pressure on the wall of the weakened artery. This decrease in pressure can prevent the aneurysm from growing or bursting.
- Surgery. This involves relining or replacing the weakened section of the aorta with an artificial tube called a graft. A surgeon will have to open either the stomach area, for abdominal aneurysms, or the chest, for thoracic aneurysms.
Learn more about this topic at the website for Texas Heart Institute, TexasHeart.org.
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