Experts in Diagnosing, Monitoring and Treating Aortic Aneurysms
Aortic aneurysm is one of the many cardiovascular diseases diagnosed and treated by the highly skilled doctors at Loyola Medicine. Your aorta, the largest artery in your body, is the main mechanism by which your heart supplies blood to the rest of your body. An aortic aneurysm occurs when any portion of the aorta develops an abnormal bulge or enlargement.
When part of the vessel becomes weak and expands, a bulge can form at the weak spot. This bulge usually starts small and can expand with continued pressure. Aneurysms can occur in any artery in the body, and are most common in the arteries of the brain and abdominal aorta.
Difference between abdominal aortic, thoracic aortic, and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA) typically occur below the diaphragm and can affect the blood flow to the lower regions of the body. Patients with AAA may experience symptoms such as deep, constant pain in the abdomen or back, and in some cases, a pulsating sensation near the navel. Risk factors for AAA include age, smoking, hypertension, and a family history of vascular diseases.
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms (TAA), on the other hand, form in the portion of the aorta that runs through the chest. Symptoms may be less obvious but can include chest pain, back pain, difficulty breathing, or coughing. TAA is often related to conditions like connective tissue disorders, high blood pressure, and atherosclerosis.
Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm is a bulging in the aorta that extends from the chest to the abdomen. This type is often one of the most complex aortic aneurysms to treat due to the complexity of their location. Not every case will be treated as it’s dependent on the location and size.
Abdominal Aortic Rupture
Though many aneurysms grow slowly and cause no symptoms for years, they can rupture, causing internal bleeding. The abdominal aorta is a large vessel; therefore, a rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm can be a life-threatening event. When detected in time, most aneurysms can be surgically repaired to prevent a rupture from occurring.
Why Choose Loyola for the Treatment of Aortic Aneurysms
The cardiovascular and vascular surgery team at Loyola has expertise in diagnosing, monitoring, and treating the most complex cases of aortic aneurysm, ensuring you get the best care for your particular condition. With advanced imaging technology and a comprehensive approach to treatment, our specialists are dedicated to providing personalized care for both abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms, helping to minimize risks and improve patient outcomes.
How is Aortic Aneurysm Treated?
Treatment for aortic aneurysm depends on the location and size of your aneurysm, as well as your general health. If your specialists suspect blood vessel enlargement, they may choose from two primary courses of treatment:
- Medical monitoring — Often called “watchful waiting,” includes regular visits with your doctor to ensure your aneurysm is not growing and to manage other medical conditions that could make your aneurysm worse
If your doctor determines the risk of a ruptured aneurysm or aortic dissection is greater than the risk of the surgery, repair surgery may be the best option, which can be done in one of two ways:
- Endovascular repair, or transcatheter repair — Does not require a surgeon to open your chest or abdomen. During this minimally invasive surgery, an interventional cardiologist uses a catheter (thin tube) to help place a stent graft (a mesh tube often made of stainless steel) into your aorta. Once the specialist places the catheter, it is moved into the enlarged portion of your aorta (the aneurysm) and the stent graft is placed. The stent graft is a miniature device that redirects blood flow, avoiding the aneurysm. The goal of the surgery is to keep the aneurysm from increasing in size. Typically, the specialist enters the blood vessel through the groin via the femoral artery.
- Open, or traditional, surgery — Used if your femoral artery is too narrow or the location of the aneurysm makes endovascular repair too difficult or risky. Your surgeon may need to make an incision in the chest or in the abdomen, depending on the location of the aneurysm. During open surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm, surgeons open the malformed portion of the aorta and insert a graft (a synthetic tube made of Dacron). Surgeons splice the tube and sew it to the healthy aorta. Blood flow now goes through the graft instead of the aneurysm.
Loyola’s multidisciplinary team of expert cardiologists and vascular surgeons work with you to determine the best course of treatment for your particular condition and select the treatment option that will provide the best outcome and long-term success.
Risks of Aortic Aneurysm Treatment
Your team of specialists at Loyola approaches the treatment of aortic aneurysm with great detail and care. While positive outcomes are our number one priority, as with any surgical procedure, complications can occur.
Endovascular repair could result in the following complications:
- Bleeding
- Continual leaking of blood out of the graft and into the aneurysm sac with potential rupture
- Damage to surrounding blood vessels, organs or other structures
- Groin hematoma
- Groin wound infection
- Kidney damage
- Limb ischemia (loss of blood flow to leg/feet) from clots
- Spinal cord injury
Open surgery could result in the following complications:
- Bleeding during or after surgery
- Embolus (clot) to other parts of the body
- Heart attack
- Infection of the graft
- Injury to the bowel
- Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
- Limb ischemia (loss of blood flow to legs/ feet)
- Lung problems
- Kidney damage
- Spinal cord injury
