Surgery for thoracic aortic aneurysm-A Summary

Aorta is the largest artery that carries oxygen rich blood from the heart to the other parts of the body. The portion of aorta that flow through the4 chest is called the thoracic aorta. The artery wall unusually expands and swells when it is weak, and pumps blood through it causing

aortic aneurysm. This condition is more prevalent in smokers, people with high cholesterol, continuous high blood pressure. The general cause of this thoracic aortic aneurysm is the thickening of the arteries. The other possibilities of this thoracic aneurysm are-

Inflammation or swelling of the aorta

Syphilis

Injury or accidents from motor vehicles

Connective tissue complaints

The symptoms and signs of aneurysm progress with years. Many patients do not experience any symptoms until the aneurysm start leaking or swelling. The indications and signs of aneurysm are swallowing problems, swelling in the neck, hoarseness, and shrill breathing.

The other common symptoms are nausea, vomiting, low pressure, chest or back pain, and very fast heart beating. This aneurysm can develop in any part of the aorta. Abdominal aortic aneurysm is those that develop in the abdomen area where the aorta runs through.

Aortic aneurysms that develop in the chest area are called thoracic aortic aneurysm, which can affect the ascending aorta, aortic arch the descending aorta and the aortic root. Aneurysm that develops in the abdomen and the chest are called the thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms.

Over 15,000 people are affected by this thoracic aneurysm and around 47,000 die of this aneurysm every year in the United States when compared to other diseases like Aids, breast cancer and other serious ailments. Thoracic aorta aneurysm is a grave health problem taking its size and place of the problem as it may cause internal bleeding due to its bursting or tearing which can endanger your life.

When the thoracic aorta aneurysm is small with no specific signs and indications then the doctor monitors it closely every six months with CT and MRI scans. Keep a control the high blood pressure and reduce the pressure on the aneurysm area. The person with the problem should avoid lifting heavy objects and doing strenuous tasks that may result in the bursting of the aneurysm.

Surgery is recommended depending on the symptoms and its acuteness. Studies say that the need for the surgery depends on the height and the size of the aneurysm. The aneurysm is treated with open chest surgery. Highly skilled and experienced surgeon should perform the surgery and on the other hand neglecting it, the patient is at a higher rate of risk.

The University of Maryland Medical Center use just a small incision in the minimum invasive surgery to reduce the pressure of the aneurysm in the aorta with the advanced medical technology. This helps the patient in speedy recovery and getting back to normal routine faster.

The complications of this thoracic aorta aneurysm surgery are heart attack, bleeding, stroke, kidney damage, paralysis due to the mutilation of the spinal cord, graft infections and uneven heartbeats.

| Complications and Risks Involved in an Open-heart Surgery | Cost of Valve Replacement Surgery | Heart Valve Replacement Surgery Complications | Heart Valve Replacement Surgery Survival Rate | Minimally Invasive Bypass Surgery | Mitral Valve Regurgitation Surgery | Open Heart Valve Replacement Surgery | Patent Ductus Arteriosus Surgery | Recovery from Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery | Recovery from Valve Replacement Surgery | Surgery for thoracic aortic aneurysm-A Summary | Valve Replacement Surgery Risks | What is Bypass Heart Surgery? | Ventricular Septal Defect Surgery |

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