ANEURYSM

ANEURYSM

An aneurysm is a bulging, weakened area in the wall of a blood vessel resulting in an abnormal widening or ballooning greater than 50% of the vessel’s normal diameter (width). An aneurysm may occur in any blood vessel, but is most often seen in an artery rather than a vein.

An aneurysm may be located in many areas of the body, such as blood vessels of the brain (cerebral aneurysm), the aorta (the largest artery in the body), the neck, the intestines, the kidney, the spleen, and the vessels in the legs (iliac, femoral, and popliteal aneurysms). The most common location of an aneurysm is the aorta, which carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the body. The thoracic aorta is the short segment of the aorta in the chest cavity. The abdominal aorta is the section of the aorta that runs through the abdomen. An aneurysm can be characterized by its location, shape, and cause.

What causes an aneurysm to form?

An aneurysm may be caused by multiple factors that result in the breaking down of the well-organized structural components (proteins) of the aortic wall that provide support and stabilize the wall. The exact cause isn’t fully known. Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries with a sticky substance called plaque) is thought to play an important role in aneurysmal disease.

What are the symptoms of an aneurysm?

Aneurysms may be asymptomatic (no symptoms) or symptomatic (with symptoms). Symptoms associated with aneurysms depend on the location of the aneurysm in the body.

Symptoms that may occur with different types of aneurysms may include, but are not limited to:

  • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA): Constant pain in abdomen, chest, lower back, or groin area
  • Cerebral Aneurysm: Sudden severe headache, nausea, vomiting, visual disturbance, loss of consciousness
  • Common Iliac Aneurysm: Lower abdominal, back, and/or groin pain
  • Femoral and Popliteal Artery Aneurysm: Easily palpated (felt) pulsation of the artery located in the groin area (femoral artery) or on the back of the knee (popliteal artery), pain in the leg, sores on the feet or lower legs