Aortic Aneurysm

Aortic aneurysms

The aorta is the largest artery in the body, carrying oxygen-rich blood away from the heart and to the rest of the body’s organs.

If your aorta becomes enlarged (generally when it is more than 1½ times the size of normal arteries), you have an aortic aneurysm.

Aneurysms can occur in any blood vessel, but most commonly in the aorta, behind the knees (popliteal), abdominal organs (visceral) or kidneys (renal). These aneurysms are treated by our vascular surgeons, as are all types of aneurysms in the chest. Aneurysms that reach a certain size can tear or rupture, causing life-threatening bleeding.

Symptoms

Most aneurysms do not have symptoms, but you could experience upper chest or back pain, hoarseness of voice, or difficulty swallowing depending on the location. In areas of your body where the aneurysm can be directly felt, it can appear as a growth with a pulse.

Risk factors

There are several risk factors for developing an aortic aneurysm, including high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, family history, bicuspid aortic valve (two leaflet valve) and connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Treatment

Treatment of aneurysms depends on several factors, including location, size, rate of growth, and diseases such as bicuspid aortic valve disease, Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Depending on the location of your aneurysm, there are surgical and less invasive options for those aneurysms that require repair. These options include surgical replacement, or special internal coverings called stent-grafts that are placed without traditional surgical incisions and typically have a rapid recovery. 

Our experienced cardiothoracic surgeons can help you understand aneurysms and discuss your treatment options. Many aneurysms don’t require surgery or stent-grafting.

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