Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Overview
Learn About Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
An aneurysm is an abnormal widening or ballooning of a portion of an artery due to weakness in the wall of the blood vessel.
A thoracic aortic aneurysm occurs in the part of the body's largest artery (the aorta) that passes through the chest.
Aortic aneurysm - thoracic; Syphilitic aneurysm; Aneurysm - thoracic aortic
The most common cause of a thoracic aortic aneurysm is hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). This condition is more common in people with high cholesterol, long-term high blood pressure, or who smoke.
Other risk factors for a thoracic aneurysm include:
- Changes caused by age
- Connective tissue disorders such as Marfan or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Inflammation of the aorta
- Injury from falls or motor vehicle accidents
- Syphilis
Aneurysms develop slowly over many years. Most people have no symptoms until the aneurysm begins to leak or expand.
Symptoms often begin suddenly when:
- The aneurysm grows quickly.
- The aneurysm tears open (called a rupture).
- Blood leaks along the wall of the aorta (aortic dissection).
If the aneurysm presses on nearby structures, the following symptoms may occur:
- Hoarseness
- Swallowing problems
- High-pitched breathing (stridor)
- Swelling in the neck
Other symptoms may include:
- Chest or upper back pain
- Clammy skin
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rapid heart rate
- Sense of impending doom
There is a risk that the aneurysm may open up (rupture) if you do not have surgery to repair it.
The treatment depends on the location of the aneurysm. The aorta is made of three parts:
- The first part moves upward toward the head. It is called the ascending aorta.
- The middle part is curved. It is called the aortic arch.
- The last part moves downward, toward the feet. It is called the descending aorta.
For people with aneurysms of the ascending aorta or aortic arch:
- Surgery to replace the aorta is recommended if an aneurysm is larger than 5 to 6 centimeters (approximately 2 inches).
- A cut is made in the middle of the breast bone (sternum).
- The aorta is replaced with a plastic or fabric graft.
- This is major surgery that requires a heart-lung machine.
For people with aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta:
- Major surgery is done to replace the aorta with a fabric graft if the aneurysm is larger than 6 centimeters (2.3 inches).
- This surgery is done through a cut on the left side of the chest, which may reach to the abdomen.
- Endovascular stenting is a less invasive option. A stent is a tiny metal or plastic tube that is used to hold an artery open. Stents can be placed into the body without cutting the chest. However, not all people with descending thoracic aneurysms are candidates for stenting.
Icahn School Of Medicine At Mount Sinai
Rami Tadros is a Vascular Surgeon and a General Surgeon in New York, New York. Dr. Tadros and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm. His top areas of expertise are Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), Peripheral Artery Disease, Stent Placement, and Angioplasty.
Icahn School Of Medicine At Mount Sinai
James Mckinsey is a Vascular Surgeon and a General Surgeon in New York, New York. Dr. Mckinsey and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm. His top areas of expertise are Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), Peripheral Artery Disease, Atherectomy, and Angioplasty.
Barnabas Health Medical Group PC
Bruce Brener is a Vascular Surgeon and a General Surgeon in Newark, New Jersey. Dr. Brener and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm. His top areas of expertise are Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), Arterial Embolism, Carotid Artery Surgery, and Endoscopy.
The long-term outlook for people with thoracic aortic aneurysm depends on other medical problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. These problems may have caused or contributed to the condition.
Serious complications after aortic surgery can include:
- Bleeding
- Graft infection
- Heart attack
- Irregular heartbeat
- Kidney damage
- Paralysis
- Stroke
Death soon after the operation occurs in 5% to 10% of people.
Complications after aneurysm stenting include damage to the blood vessels supplying the leg, which may require another operation.
Contact your health care provider if you have:
- A family history of connective tissue disorders (such as Marfan or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome)
- Chest or back discomfort
To prevent atherosclerosis:
- Control your blood pressure and blood lipid levels.
- DO NOT smoke.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Exercise regularly.
Summary: Retrospective clinical case studies in recent years have shown that most cases of lung cancer and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are detected at the same time and that there is a wide variation in the prevalence of AAA in patients with primary lung cancer reported in the literature, with some papers suggesting as high as 11%, suggesting that there may be a relationship between the prevalence of t...
Summary: The Zenith® Fenestrated+ Endovascular Graft Clinical Study will assess the safety and effectiveness of the Zenith® Fenestrated+ Endovascular Graft (ZFEN+) in combination with the BeGraft Balloon-Expandable FEVAR Bridging Stent Graft System (BeGraft) and Unibody2 for the treatment of patients with aortic aneurysms involving one or more of the major visceral arteries.
Published Date: May 10, 2024
Published By: Neil Grossman, MD, Saint Vincent Radiological Associates, Framingham, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Beckman JA. Diseases of the aorta. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 63.
Braverman AC, Schermerhorn M. Diseases of the aorta. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 42.
Singh MJ, Makaroun MS. Thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysms: endovascular treatment. In: Sidawy AN, Perler BA, eds. Rutherford's Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 80.