Patient LoginA thoracic aortic aneurysm, also known as a thoracic aneurysm or aortic dissection, occurs when a weakness or tear in your aorta (the largest artery in your body) or artery wall causes an abnormal widening, ballooning, and/or bleeding of that blood vessel/artery. Your aorta travels through your chest region, therefore this condition typically occurs in your chest, between your aorta and heart. Your aorta provides blood to your vital organs, tissues, and cells.
If the thoracic aortic aneurysm is slow-growing or small, it may never rupture, however, if it is large and progressive then emergency surgery may be required. A thoracic aortic aneurysm may develop over years, or it may occur suddenly. In addition, some people may not even realize they have an aneurysm until it becomes extremely painful, and/or life-threatening. Treatment may range from observation to surgery. If you suspect that you may have a thoracic aortic aneurysm, it is imperative that you seek immediate medical attention.
Causes
Although the exact cause varies, the most common cause of a thoracic aortic aneurysm is arteriosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries. Arteriosclerosis is a type of heart disease that occurs when plaque formations accumulate in your arteries. Plaque buildup in your arteries can weaken arterial walls, and lead to an thoracic aortic aneurysm. Other possible causes include: Marfan syndrome (a connective tissue disease), genetic disorders, nicotine use (smoking), hypertension, and high cholesterol.
Symptoms
In some cases, a thoracic aortic aneurysm occurs suddenly without warning. This typically occurs when the aneurysm tears (ruptures), the wall of your aorta leaks blood (aortic dissections) and/or the aneurysm is fast-growing.Other symptoms associated with a thoracic aortic aneurysm include: hoarseness, swallowing problems, stridor (high-pitched breathing), swelling in your neck, chest pain, upper back pain, nausea, vomiting, clammy skin, accelerated heart rate, and/or a feeling of impending doom.
Treatment Options
Observation
If your thoracic aortic aorta aneurysm is small (approximately 1.6 inches), your physician may opt to observe your aneurysm, every 6 months to a year to check the progression of it. In this case, your physician has deemed that the risks of operating outweigh the benefits.
Medications
If hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, or blocked arteries appear to be contributing to the aneurysm, your physician may prescribe medications to reduce your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, thus lowering your risk of complications. These medications may include: beta blockers, angiotensin II receptor blockers, and/or statins.
Prevention Surgery
In some cases, your physician may recommend prevention surgery. In other words, he or she may determine that surgery is needed to prevent your thoracic aortic aneurysm from rupturing. This type of surgery is typically performed on aneurysms that are between 2.0 and 2.5 inches (i.e. 5 or 6 centimeters). Depending on your condition and the location of your thoracic aortic aneurysm, your physician may recommend: open chest surgery or endovascular surgery.
Emergency Surgery
Lastly, in severe cases, your physician may need to perform emergency surgery in order to save your life. In some cases, a thoracic aortic aneurysm can successfully be repaired (i.e. replacing your aorta with a plastic or fabric graft one) with emergency surgery, but it is important to note that this type of surgery can be life-threatening.
References:
Mayo Clinic. (2014). Thoracic aortic aneurysm. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/aortic-aneurysm/basics/definition/con-20043547
PubMed. (2014). Thoracic aortic aneurysm. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002107/#adam_001119.disease.symptoms