Aneurysm

We understand hearing you or a loved one may have an aneurysm may not be easy. Our team of experts are highly specialized in treating aneurysms, which means we have the experience for the best outcomes. We’re here to answer all your questions and help you get well.

What is an aneurysm?

An aneurysm, by definition, is a weakened area or bulge in the wall of one of your arteries. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body.

An aneurysm is a serious condition that can be life-threatening. If undetected and left unchecked, the artery wall can stretch too far and burst, causing internal bleeding, stroke and even death.

Understanding the types of aneurysms

While you can develop an aneurysm in any artery, they form most frequently in certain locations.

• Aortic aneurysm occurs in your aorta, the main artery that carries blood away from your heart to the rest of your body.
• Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm forms in your carotid arteries on the sides of your neck, which supply your brain and head with blood.

Aneurysm symptoms

Some aneurysms develop slowly and don’t trigger any symptoms in the beginning. That’s why we vigilantly screen people who have risk factors, such as age, that could lead to an aneurysm.

If you do experience aneurysm symptoms, they may be similar to other conditions like a heart attack or stroke. Call 911 immediately as early detection and treatment can help save your life.

Symptoms can vary based on where in your body the aneurysm occurs:

• Chest and abdomen: See the symptoms of an aortic aneurysm.
  
• Sides of the neck: See the symptoms of an extracranial carotid artery aneurysm.

Aneurysm causes & risk factors

Certain conditions or factors can weaken or damage your artery walls and can cause an aneurysm. These risk factors include:

• Atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque that narrows your arteries
• High blood pressure
• Smoking
• Family history of aneurysms
• Inherited conditions like Marfan syndrome

Other risk factors

You are also more likely to develop an aneurysm if you are:

• 65 or older: Aneurysms are more common as you age.
  
• Male: Men are more likely than women to have aneurysms.
  
• In a major accident: Serious accidents such as auto crashes can damage your arteries and lead to aneurysms.

Aneurysm diagnosis

It’s important to catch and treat an aneurysm as quickly as possible and before it ruptures. That’s why we often screen for possible aneurysm during diagnostic tests for other heart conditions. And we routinely screen men who smoke and are over age 65.

If you have risk factors, talk to your doctor. They may want you to come in for regular screening tests. We have the latest in imaging technologies to detect even the smallest aneurysm.

The most common tests we use include:

• Angiogram, a cardiac catheterization procedure where your doctor uses special, thin tubes to insert dye into your artery, making it easier to view
• Radiographic imaging, such as CT scan and MRI
• Echocardiogram, a heart ultrasound
• Electrocardiogram (EKG), a test that checks your heart’s electrical activity

Find out more about our heart and vascular testing and diagnosis.

Aneurysm treatment

You may not need treatment for a small aneurysm without symptoms. Instead, your doctor may monitor it closely for any changes.

If your aneurysm is large or causing symptoms, you’ll likely need treatment. We do many aneurysm repair surgeries, giving us the experience to help put your mind at ease. Plus, we’re chosen to be part of the latest clinical trials, which means we can offer you innovative treatments and devices not otherwise available.

For your treatment, we may recommend:

• Medication: Prescription medication can help lower your blood pressure, relax your blood vessels and reduce the risk of the weakened artery wall bursting.
  Aneurysm repair surgery: Your doctor will make a recommendation based on the size and location of your aneurysm. Options include:

• Aneurysm surgery, to replace or reinforce the bulge in the weakened artery wall before it leaks or bursts.
  
• Endovascular stent grafting, in which our specialists insert a small wire mesh tube, called a stent, into your artery to strengthen it.

We’re experts at treating even unusually shaped aneurysms, using customized stents that provide a minimally invasive option to open surgical repair – which means a faster recovery for you. And for aneurysms near the kidney and internal arteries, which can be tough areas to treat, we offer specialized fenestrated stent grafts. We measure the arteries that need treatment so we can make your stent with branches placed at the correct angles to fit your individual arteries.