The main artery in your body is called the aorta. The aorta carries oxygen-rich blood away from your heart to the rest of your body and your brain. Diseases of the aorta can be very serious, and potentially life-threatening. An aortic aneurysm is a swelling or bulging at any point along the aorta. The types of aortic aneurysm are defined according to where they occur. The most common place is in the abdomen (your tummy area) called an abdominal aortic aneurysm or AAA for short. Less frequently, an aneurysm can occur in the chest
and is called a thoracic aortic aneurysm or TAA for short. What are the symptoms of an aortic aneurysm?In most cases there are no noticeable symptoms and most people with an aneurysm won’t be aware that they have one. However, if an aneurysm becomes large it can cause:
What causes an aortic aneurysm?Blood is under pressure when it’s pumped from your heart into the aorta – a large artery in your body. The wall of this artery has to be strong enough to resist this pressure, but still flexible enough to return to its normal shape after a pulse of blood has passed through. An aneurysm or a bulging of the aorta usually occurs where the wall has become weakened or can’t stretch as well as it should. When this happens, the wall doesn’t return to its normal shape after blood has passed through. There isn’t a specific cause for developing an aortic aneurysm, but the risk factors include:
Read more about your risk factors. How is an aortic aneurysm diagnosed?Aneurysms affect more men than women and your risk increases over the age of 65. Most people with an aneurysm don’t have symptoms, but there's a screening programme in place in the UK. You can find out more about the screening programme on the NHS website. An aneurysm is sometimes picked up during tests for other conditions, commonly by:
How can an aortic aneurysm be treated?The treatment you receive will depend on a few factors, such as the size of the aneurysm and the location. A CT scan can be requested to assess the aneurysm. If you have an aortic aneurysm, there’s a risk that it may begin to leak or even burst. The bigger the aneurysm is, the higher the risk of it bursting (rupture). If it grows more than around 5.5cm you may need to have surgery to prevent it from bursting. A specialist will discuss which treatment is best for you. Learn more about the treatments for a thoracic aortic aneurysm and an abdominal aortic aneurysm. What is aortic rupture?Aortic rupture is when all the layers of the aorta wall tear, causing blood to leak out from the aorta often due to a large aortic aneurysm that bursts. This will stop blood being pumped around the body and is life threatening. Ideally an aortic aneurysm will be repaired before a rupture can occur. What is aortic dissection?Aortic dissection is when the weakened wall of the aorta tears, causing blood to leak between the layers that make up the walls of your arteries. This can happen suddenly or slowly over time. If you have an aortic aneurysm, you’re at higher risk of this happening. The symptoms of aortic dissection include:
If you experience any of these symptoms you should phone 999 immediately as aortic dissection is a medical emergency and needs urgent treatment. What causes aortic dissection?Risk factors increase the chance of aortic dissection. High blood pressure is one of the most common and can weaken the wall of the aorta over time, making it more likely to tear. Others risk factors include atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and aortic coarctation (narrowing of the aorta at birth). Conditions that weaken the aorta wall, like an aneurysm, can make aortic dissection more likely too. Some people are born with a condition that causes the aorta wall to weaken. These conditions are uncommon and include:
How is aortic dissection diagnosed?Diagnosing aortic dissection can be difficult because the symptoms are similar to many other health conditions. To find out if you have a dissection, your doctor may use:
How is aortic dissection treated?There are two types of aortic dissection, Type A and Type B. Each type is in a different area and the treatment and management of each is different.
All people who have aortic dissection (including those treated surgically) will have to take medication to control their blood pressure, usually for the rest of their lives. The medication helps reduce stress on the aorta. For more help and information:
Want to know more?Order or download our publications:  What are the clinical findings in a patient with a dissecting aneurysm?Sudden severe chest or upper back pain, often described as a tearing or ripping sensation, that spreads to the neck or down the back. Sudden severe stomach pain. Loss of consciousness. Shortness of breath.
What happens with a dissecting aneurysm?An aortic dissection is a tear (dissection) in the wall of the body's main artery, the aorta. The aorta sends blood from your heart to the rest of your body. A tear causes blood to get in between the aorta's 3 layers. This reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients available for your body's organs.
What are dissecting aneurysms?Dissecting aneurysms are not true aneurysms but rather hematomas within the arterial media that occur almost exclusively in the aorta. An intimal tear allows access of blood to the media, and luminal blood pressure causes propagation of the thrombus through the arterial media over the course of hours to days (Fig.
Which of the following findings indicates acute dissection of an aortic aneurysm?Signs and symptoms
Sudden onset of severe chest pain that often has a tearing or ripping quality (classic symptom) Chest pain may be mild. Anterior chest pain: Usually associated with anterior arch or aortic root dissection. Neck or jaw pain: With aortic arch involvement and extension into the great vessels.
|
Which of the following symptoms would you see in a patient with a dissecting aneurysm?
zusammenhängende Posts
Urheberrechte © © 2024 de.apacode Inc.
