|
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
Thoracic aortic aneurysm is a weakening and swelling of the aortic artery wall due to vascular disease, injury, or a genetic tissue defect. A small aneurysm may only require monitoring by a physician. A larger or rapidly expanding aneurysm presents more risk of rupture and may require treatment.
Management and treatment at Harborview Medical Center
Vascular screening, including carotid and cardiac if necessary, pulmonary assessment, management of hypertension, open surgical repair or endovascular repair. The size and location of a patient’s thoracic aortic aneurysm, and general health will determine how the aneurysm should be treated. In cases where repair is necessary, endovascular repair using an endovascular graft provides a less-invasive option.
Frequently Asked Questions
 |
| Aortic Aneurysm |
What are the risk factors for developing an aneurysm?
Risk factors include heredity (family genes), smoking, heart disease, high blood pressure, high fat diet. The primary risk factors are those related to atherosclerosis, in particular high blood pressure
What are the symptoms of a Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm?
Aneurysms often present with no symptoms but are detected on routine chest X-ray. Symptoms can be related to growth, or isolated bleeding, and include back pain or nausea. Aortic rupture can occur suddenly, the risk increasing dramatically after the aortic diameter reaches 6 cm, in which case severe pain, shock or sudden cardiac arrest can occur.Mild to severe pain in the chest, back, shoulders, neck, or abdomen, or tenderness in the mid or upper chest, back or shoulders. Some patients experience no symptoms.
 |
| Endoprosthesis placed using minimally invasive procedure within thoracic aneurysm |
What treatment options are available?
Medical management: may include keeping blood pressure under control, quitting smoking, reducing cholesterol.
Open surgical repair: Open surgical repair removes the aneurysm when it is considered dangerous and at risk for rupture. The aorta is repaired by replacing the diseased section with a synthetic graft that is sewn into place with sutures.
Endovascular repair: The aneurysm is sealed off by placing an endovascular graft inside that section, relining the diseased section of the aorta and making a new path for the blood flow.
Glossary of terms:
Aneurysm: a ballooning (enlarging and thinning) of a weakened area of a blood vessel.
Aorta: The main artery that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. It is the largest artery in the body.
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (TAA): A ballooning (enlarging and thinning) of the aorta due to a weakening in the arterial wall in the chest area.