An aortic aneurysm is a weakened area on the aorta, which is the main artery that leads away from the heart and supplies blood to the body. As blood rushes through the artery, it bulges like a balloon, increasing the chance of rupture, which can cause life-threatening hemorrhaging. Most aortic aneurysms occur in the lower portion of the vessel located in the abdomen. Treatment of an aneurysm often depends on size and likelihood of rupture.
Complications
An aortic aneurysm in itself does not often cause medical problems. However, it can cause a number of dangerous complications. The National Institutes of Health explain that an aortic aneurysm includes arterial embolism, heart attack, hypovolemic shock, kidney failure and stroke. The most dangerous complication of an aortic aneurysm is rupture. The Society of Interventional Radiology explains that survival of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm is low, approximately 10 percent to 20 percent.
Treatments
Small aortic aneurysms that are not growing rapidly or causing symptoms often do not require any treatment other than watchful waiting. Watchful waiting means the periodic monitoring by a physician to ensure that the aneurysm is not growing.
When a person has a large aortic aneurysm, a surgeon must often place a graft. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons explains that open surgical repair involves the surgeon making a large incision, clamping off the aorta, opening the aneurysm and sewing in a plastic graft to act as a bridge for the blood flow, eliminating the pulsing pressure of the blood that could place more pressure on the weakened artery wall.
An interventional repair is a minimally invasive technique that allows a radiologist to insert a catheter through the groin up into the aortic aneurysm. The physician then passes the stent graft into the aneurysm and opens it, creating new walls in the vessel, according to the Society of Interventional Radiology.
Benefits
The benefit to watchful waiting is that the patient does not have to undergo any invasive procedure and can avoid the risks that are often associated with invasive procedures. The benefit of an open surgical repair is that a surgeon has a clear view of the aneurysm as he works and can make adjustments as needed. Interventional repair often requires no abdominal surgical incision, faster recovery, less pain and reduced complications, according to the Society of Interventional Radiology.
Disadvantages
One of the biggest disadvantages of watchful waiting is that the aneurysm might rupture between periodic ultrasounds. Like any open surgical procedure, infection or an unexpected reaction to anesthesia is possible. The recovery period for an open aortic aneurysm repair involves a three- to five-day hospital stay and six to eight weeks to return to full activity, according to Surgical Care Associates. The disadvantages of an interventional repair include possible movement of the graft after treatment, increasing the likelihood of rupture as well as lifetime follow-up studies to ensure that the stent graft continues to function properly.
Complications
Most surgical procedures have the potential for complications. Less serious complications of an aortic aneurysm repair include swelling and infection at the incision site. Serious complications can include heart problems, breathing problems, kidney and colon problems and paralysis, according to Case Western University.
