Symptom

• To prevent the risk of rupture
• To relieve symptoms
• To restore good blood flow
• Size of an aneurysm greater than 5 centimeters in diameter (about 2 inches)
• The growth rate of an aneurysm of more than 0.5 centimeters (about 0.2 inches) over 1 year
• When the risk of rupture outweighs the risk of surgery
• Emergency life-threatening bleeding

Causes

Thoracic aortic aneurysms are usually caused by high blood pressure or sudden injury. Sometimes people with inherited connective tissue disorders, such as Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, get thoracic aortic aneurysms.

When to seek medical attention?

Seek emergency care if you experience any signs or symptoms of stroke. Even if they last only a short while and then you feel normal, see a doctor right away.

Risk Factor

• Heart attack
• Irregular heart rhythms
• Bleeding during or after surgery
• Injury to the bowel
• Loss of blood flow to legs or feet from a blood clot
• Blood clot
• Infection of the graft
• Kidney damage & Spinal cord injury

Diagnosis & Test

Tests to diagnose an abdominal aortic aneurysm include:

• Abdominal ultrasound. This is the most common test to diagnose abdominal aortic aneurysms. An abdominal ultrasound is a painless test that uses sound waves to show how blood flows through the structures in the belly area, including the aorta.
• Abdominal CT scan: This painless test uses X-rays to create cross-sectional images of the structures inside the belly area. It's used to create clear images of the aorta. An abdominal CT scan can also detect the size and shape of an aneurysm.
• Abdominal MRI: This imaging test uses a magnetic field and computer-generated radio waves to create detailed images of the structures inside your belly area. Sometimes, dye (contrast material) is given through a vein to make your blood vessels more visible.

Treatment Procedure

The anesthesiologist will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and blood oxygen level during the surgery. Once you are sedated, your doctor may insert a breathing tube through your throat into your lungs and connect you to a ventilator. This will breathe for you during the surgery.

The doctor may choose regional anesthesia instead of general anesthesia. Regional anesthesia is medicine delivered through an epidural (in the back) to numb the area to be operated on. You will receive medicine to help you relax and analgesic medicine for pain relief. The doctor will be able to talk to you during the procedure.

The doctor will determine which type of anesthesia is appropriate. The doctor will make an incision in each groin to expose the femoral arteries. Using fluoroscopy (a type of X-ray "movie" that sends images to a TV-like monitor), the doctor will insert a needle into the femoral artery. Then he or she will thread a guidewire to the aneurysm site. Your doctor will remove the needle and slide a sheath over the guidewire.

Your provider will inject contrast dye to see the position of the aneurysm and the blood vessels next to it. The doctor will use special endovascular instruments and X-ray images for guidance. He or she will insert a stent-graft through the femoral artery and advance it up into the aorta to the site of the aneurysm. He or she will expand the stent graft and attach it to the wall of the aorta. Your provider will inject dye again to check for blood leaking out into the aneurysm area.

If your doctor sees no leaks, he or she will remove all of the instruments. Your doctor will suture the incisions back together and apply a sterile bandage or dressing.

Outcome and Recovery

The recovery time depends on the patient, procedure, and severity.

Success Rate

The success rate has many factors depending on it, like the stage of the condition, the age of patient and the procedure complication.