Health - A bulge in the artery

DR. ASHOK GUPTA


How much do you know about aortic aneurysms?


An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in a section of the aorta, which carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Because the section with the aneurysm is overstretched and weak, it can burst. If the aorta bursts, it can cause bleeding that can quickly lead to death.

Aneurysms can form in any section of the aorta, but they are most common in the belly area (abdominal aortic aneurysm). They can also happen in the upper body (thoracic aortic aneurysm).

Weak walls

Some problems, such as high blood pressure and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), weaken the artery walls. These, along with the wear and tear that occurs with aging, can result in a weak aortic wall that bulges outward.

Most aortic aneurysms don’t cause symptoms. Sometimes a doctor finds out during tests done for other reasons. People who have symptoms complain of pain or discomfort in the belly, chest or back. The symptoms may be intermittent or constant. Ignoring or neglecting them can have catastrophic implications. In the worst case, an aneurysm can burst, or rupture. This causes severe pain and bleeding, often leading to death.

Experts recommend screening tests for aneurysms for men who are aged 65 to 75 and have ever smoked or at least 60 years old and have a first-degree relative (father or brother) who has had an aneurysm. These men are more likely to have an aneurysm than are women or non-smokers. If your doctor thinks you have an aneurysm, you may need tests such as an ultrasound, a CT scan, or an MRI to find out where it is and how big it is.

Treatment

Treatment is based on how big the aneurysm is and how fast it is growing. Small aneurysms rarely rupture and are usually treated with high blood pressure medicin. If you have a large or fast-growing aneurysm, you need surgery. In most cases, a doctor will replace the damaged part of the blood vessel with a man-made graft. Aneurysms can also be treated by percutaneous means, with a stent graft. The treatment is the decision of the trained vascular specialist.

The coming years will definitely see the situation improve, and sufferers of aortic aneurysms will receive timely and effective treatment and the incidence of fatalities will come to an end.

As they say forewarned is forearmed. An increasingly prosperous India now has access to richer food and more leisure, and consequently lifestyle diseases are increasing. The requirement of timely detection and treatment is imperative even from an economic perspective as enormous numbers of man-hours are lost by these potentially debilitating diseases.