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Aneurysm
Who is at risk for
an aneurysm?
Different types of
aneurysms affect different groups. Brain aneurysms affect people AFAB more than
those AMAB. Aortic aneurysms more often affect people AMAB.
Abdominal aortic
aneurysms occur most often in people who are:
Assigned male at
birth.
Over the age of 60.
Smokers.
White, although
they affect people of any race.
What causes an
aneurysm?
In some cases,
people are born with aneurysms. They can also develop at any point during your
life. Although the cause of an aneurysm is often unknown, some possible causes
include:
Atherosclerosis
(narrowing of the arteries).
Family history of
aneurysms.
High blood
pressure.
Injury to your
aorta.
What are the
symptoms of an aneurysm?
In many cases,
people don’t know they have an aneurysm. If an aneurysm ruptures (bursts), it’s
a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Call 911 if you or
someone you're with shows signs of a ruptured aneurysm. Symptoms of a ruptured
aneurysm come on suddenly. You may feel:
Lightheaded.
Rapid heartbeat.
Sudden, severe pain
in your head, chest, abdomen or back.
Sudden loss of
consciousness following a severe headache.
When an aneurysm
causes symptoms, the signs depend on its location. You might notice signs of
shock, such as a drop in blood pressure, feeling clammy and “out of it,” and
having a pounding heart. Other symptoms of an aneurysm can include:
Confusion or
dizziness.
Difficulty
swallowing.
Fatigue.
Headache.
Nausea or vomiting.
Pain in your
abdomen, chest or back.
Pulsating abdominal
mass or swelling in your neck.
Rapid heart rate.
Vision changes.
What are the
complications of an aneurysm?
If an aneurysm
ruptures, it causes internal bleeding. Depending on the location of the aneurysm,
a rupture can be very dangerous or life-threatening. An aneurysm in your neck
can cause a blood clot that travels to your brain. If the clot cuts off blood
flow to your brain, it causes a stroke. When a brain aneurysm ruptures, it
causes a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Some people call this type of stroke a brain
bleed. Typically people have what they call the worst headache of their life
and then develop other symptoms like limb weakness, headache and trouble
speaking.
How is an aneurysm
diagnosed?
Many aneurysms
develop without causing symptoms. Your healthcare provider may discover it by
accident during a routine checkup or other screening.
If you have
symptoms that may indicate an aneurysm, your provider will do imaging tests.
Imaging tests that can find and help diagnose an aneurysm include:
CT scan.
CT or MRI
angiography.
Ultrasound.
How will my
healthcare provider classify an aneurysm?
Your provider will
classify an aneurysm by how large it is and how it forms. The different classifications
include:
Fusiform aneurysm
bulges out on all sides of your artery.
Saccular aneurysm
causes just one side of your artery to bulge.
Mycotic aneurysm
develops after an infection (typically in your heart valves) has weakened an
artery wall.
Pseudoaneurysm or
false aneurysm occurs when just the outer layer of your artery wall expands.
This can occur after injury to the inner layer of your artery called
dissection.
How is an aneurysm
treated?
If your provider
discovers that you have an unruptured aneurysm, they'll monitor your condition
closely. The goal of treatment is to prevent the aneurysm from bursting.
Depending on the
aneurysm’s type, location and size, treatment can include medication or
surgery. Your provider may prescribe medications to improve blood flow, lower
blood pressure or control cholesterol. These treatments can help slow aneurysm
growth and reduce pressure on the artery wall.
Large aneurysms at
risk of bursting may require surgery. You'll also need surgery if an aneurysm
bursts. Types of surgery may include:
Endovascular
aneurysm repair (EVAR): During endovascular surgery, your provider inserts a
catheter (thin tube) into the vessel. Through the catheter, the surgeon inserts
a graft (section of specialized tubing) to reinforce or repair the artery. For
thoracic aneurysms, this procedure is called thoracic endovascular aneurysm
repair (TEVAR). If your surgeon has to make a special graft with custom
openings, the procedure may be fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair
(FEVAR).
Open surgery: In
some cases, a surgeon may perform the graft or remove the aneurysm through an
incision (open surgery).
Endovascular
coiling: This procedure treats cerebral aneurysms. The surgeon inserts multiple
coils (a spiral of platinum wire) through a catheter to pack the aneurysm. This
reduces blood flow to the aneurysm and eliminates the risk of rupture.
Microvascular
clipping: This type of open brain surgery treats cerebral aneurysms. The
surgeon places a metal clip at the base of the aneurysm to cut off blood
supply.
Catheter
embolization: This procedure cuts off blood supply to the aneurysm. The surgeon
inserts a catheter into the affected artery, using the tube to place medication
or embolic agents that prevent bleeding.