What is Aortic Aneurysm?
Aortic aneurysm is a ballooning that occurs in areas where the aortic vessel wall is weak.
Aorta can be defined as the main artery whose origin is the heart and which forms the source of the entire arterial network in the body. Aortic aneurysm is a type of deformation that occurs exactly in this vessel.
Aortic aneurysm is a condition in which the wall structure of the aorta, the largest artery in the body, weakens due to various reasons and its diameter expands. Due to the pressure of the blood pumped within the aorta, a balloon-like expansion occurs in the weakened part of the aortic wall.
Aortic aneurysm can occur in any part of the aorta, depending on the weakening that occurs. Deterioration in the structure of the elastic fibers that make up the aortic vessel wall is the most common factor in aortic aneurysm.
Aortic aneurysm usually occurs due to a genetic tendency and is often seen in people over the age of 50 and with high blood pressure. In some cases, aortic aneurysm may occur in very young people due to connective tissue diseases.
What are the Risks of Aortic Aneurysm?
-The deterioration of the elastic fibers in the aortic vessel wall and their inability to perform their functions, and the resulting enlargement may grow over time. As the aneurysm expands, various symptoms begin to appear.
-Aortic aneurysm, that is, the ballooning that occurs in the vessel, can rupture when it grows too much. Rupture of the aortic vessel can cause bleeding in the vessel that supplies the entire body and cause instant death. Bleeding that occurs as a result of increased growth and rupture in aortic aneurysms can develop rapidly without any symptoms and cause sudden death.
-A blood clot may occur inside the aortic aneurysm. Small pieces of the blood clot can break off and circulate in the vessel, where there is constant blood flow. If any small piece of the blood clot gets stuck in the brain or heart vessel, Stroke or heart attack may occur. A broken piece of blood clot can cause systematic disruptions in the functioning of the kidney, liver or other vital organs. Likewise, a blood clot in the arms, legs, or feet can block blood flow and cause numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain in these areas.
How is Aortic Aneurysm Diagnosed?
Aortic aneurysms usually appear as conditions that do not cause any symptoms and are noticed on x-rays performed during routine check-ups. In some cases, it becomes clear when the patient consults a doctor as a result of it growing large enough to cause various symptoms. In this regard, we can list the procedures performed for the diagnosis of aortic aneurysm as follows;
-High-resolution CT scan
-X-ray imaging of blood vessels (angiography)
-Ultrasound of the aorta recording images from inside the esophagus (transesophageal echocardiography)
-Examining the inside of blood vessels (intravascular ultrasonography)
How Are Aortic Aneurysms Treated?
Priority Treatment in Aortic Aneurysm: Stent-Graft
We can list the following as the basic elements considered in the treatment of aortic aneurysm;
-Location of the aneurysm
-Shape of the aneurysm
-Size of the aneurysm
-Age of the patient
-General health condition
-Diagnosis and diagnosis process information obtained from imaging tests
Ascending Aorta and Aortic Valve Replacement Closed Method
The aorta located in the chest; It consists of 3 parts: ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending aorta. Aneurysms occurring in these areas can grow silently without giving any symptoms.
The ascending aorta, also known as the ascending aorta, which has reached a diameter of 5.5 cm or more, carries life-threatening risks for the patient. As a result of the thinning and rupture of the ascending aortic wall, blood spreads into the heart cavity within a few seconds, causing the heart to become compressed and causes it to stop. In this regard, we can say that surgery for the ascending aorta is inevitable.
In ascending aortic aneurysms, the replacement of this vessel can be performed from 3-4 cm by making small incisions with the closed method of ascending aorta and aortic valve replacement.
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