Aortic disease
What is it?
The largest artery in the body, the aorta, is the primary blood vessel. It's responsible for carrying oxygen-rich blood away from the heart and to all parts of the body. When affected by disease, the aorta can split (dissection) or dilate (aneurysm) and in either case, the rupture may have fatal results.
Types of aneurysms are classified by their location:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm: Involves the lower part of the chest through abdominal area.
- Thoracic aneurysm: Occurs in the chest.
- Thoracoabdominal aneurysms: Involves both the thoracic and abdominal aorta.
Symptoms
Aneurysms are often asymptomatic, highlighting the importance for screening. However, when symptoms do occur, urgent repairs are usually necessary. Aortic dissections tend to be more symptomatic. Below are the most common symptoms associated with aneurysms and dissections.
Thoracic aortic aneurysm/dissection
- Chest or back pain that continues to the jaw, neck or upper back
- Persistent coughing
- Hoarseness
- Shortness of breath
- Ongoing pain in the back, abdomen or groin
- Pulsating enlargement or tender mass noticed by a doctor upon physical examination
When an aneurysm dissects or ruptures, symptoms may develop suddenly such as:
- Severe sharp or tearing pain
- Clammy skin
- Fainting or dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rapid, weak heart rate
- Low blood pressure
Risk factors
- Family history of aortic aneurysm
- Family history of peripheral vascular disease
- Heart disease or atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- Advancing age
- Gender: more men than women develop aortic disease
- Genetic connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome
Diagnosing aortic disease
- Ultrasound
- CT scan
- Angiogram
- MRI
Treating aortic disease
At HonorHealth, our team of experts is dedicated to achieving superior outcomes. Our surgeons utilize the latest technologies and tools to repair all types of aortic diseases.
- Observation of aneurysm using imaging such as ultrasound or CT scans repeated over time to monitor for increasing size.
- Aortic aneurysm surgery
- Traditional open surgery.
- Endovascular aneurysm repair or endovascular stenting; a less invasive approach.
- Gore® EXCLUDER® Thoracoabdominal Branch Endoprosthesis (TAMBE); a minimally invasive FDA-approved endovascular repair solution for complex aneurysms involving the visceral aorta.
- Aortic dissections need careful monitoring and medical care. Sometimes, treatment for aortic dissections is necessary. It’s important to consult a vascular specialist about this condition because there are many details to consider.
- Ruptures require immediate emergency care.