Do your blood vessels look swollen when you have an aneurysm? Do I need treatment?

 

An aneurysm, which looks like a bulging blood vessel, is not painful and is asymptomatic, so some people may leave it as it is. It is dangerous to leave it unattended, as it may rupture and lead to the worst death. This time, we will explain the symptoms, causes, and treatment of aneurysms.

What is an aneurysm?

An aneurysm is a disease in which a part of a blood vessel becomes thin and swells. It is a disease in which various changes occur, such as inflating a part of the balloon like a balloon or inflating the whole.

Since it is almost asymptomatic, there is no problem in living as it is, and there are many people who neglect it, but in fact, there is a risky aspect as it progresses. You can't see a sudden change, so nothing seems to change, but if it ruptures, there is a possibility that it can be life-threatening. It is a disease in which symptoms change rapidly, such as pain or shock when ruptured.

Symptoms of an aneurysm

What are the symptoms of an aneurysm?

An aneurysm can occur anywhere there is an artery. Human blood vessels have arteries and veins. Blood from the heart is carried throughout the body through arteries, and veins are responsible for returning used blood to the heart.

Arteries are always working to pump blood throughout the body, but the arterial walls can weaken for some reason. The blood vessels swell as the part swells outward by being pressed by the pressure of the flowing blood.

Aneurysms are also characterized by their appearance. Symptoms are mostly asymptomatic, but some people may have pain, coughing, gasping, dysphagia, and hoarseness. In the case of a large lump, there may be a feeling of pressure or the beating of the lump may be perceived.

Weakened arterial walls need to be taken care of as there is a risk of rupture in the future if left unattended. It can occur in any part of the artery, it is known that three-quarters of it occurs in the abdomen and the rest in the chest. Because similar symptoms include arterial dissociation, it is also important to properly test and differentiate them in the first place.

Symptoms in case of rupture

What are the symptoms of a rupture?

If an aneurysm ruptures, the affected area bleeds profusely. And when something in the chest ruptures, it can cause intense pain in the back, and when something in the abdomen ruptures, it can cause intense pain in the back. It is also conceivable that when ruptured, blood pressure drops, leading to symptoms of shock and rapid death. In this case, prompt action is required, such as calling an ambulance.

What is arterial dissociation?

What is a similar symptom of arterial dissociation?

Like an aneurysm, it is a disease in which changes can be seen in weak areas of blood vessels. Aneurysms are characterized by swelling of blood vessels, whereas arterial dissociation is characterized by the formation of fissures.

At first glance, it looks like an aneurysm because blood flows into the cracks in the intima and media, causing the cracks to enlarge. However, even if it looks similar, there are some that have high urgency, so you need to be careful.

Causes of aneurysms

What are the causes of an aneurysm?

The main cause of aneurysms is arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis is a condition in which cholesterol or triglyceride levels are high, which causes the blood vessels to become hard and narrow, resulting in poor blood flow. Therefore, aneurysms are more likely to form in the weakened area.

Atherosclerosis is known to account for most of the causes of aneurysms, but rarely, trauma, aortitis, and Marfan's syndrome. Marufan syndrome is a congenital disease in which the elasticity of systemic cells is lost due to genetic abnormalities. The aneurysm that occurs in this case is characterized by being most likely to appear in the ascending aorta. Smoking is also known to be a factor in aneurysms.

Aneurysm Examination Subjects

If an aneurysm is suspected as a symptom, which department should I see?

If you have a vascular surgeon, you may be able to consult a specialist doctor. Aneurysms can also be diagnosed at a cardiologist, etc.

aneurysm examination

What tests are done for an aneurysm?

In CT scan, MRI scan, and ultrasound echo test, it is judged by looking at the size of the lump and in which part it was formed. If the aneurysm is small, it may be judged that surgery is not necessary immediately because it is not urgent, but it is important to follow up regularly after that. Even if you have been observed, do not be relieved and do an inspection once a year.

aneurysm treatment

What are the treatments for aneurysms?

Because an aneurysm does not heal naturally, it must be treated. We will continue to treat the lump by performing surgery on the swollen area. Currently, two types of surgery are recommended, and it is decided according to the symptoms between artificial blood vessel replacement surgery, which has been around for a long time, and stent graft insertion, which has recently been attracting attention.

artificial blood vessel replacement surgery

What is artificial vascular replacement surgery?

The existing surgical method for aneurysms is artificial blood vessel replacement surgery. When performing this operation, especially when brain-separated extracorporeal circulation is used for thoracic aortic aneurysms, it is necessary to put the patient's body into an ultra-low body temperature of 20 °C to put him into a state of apnea. In addition, artificial blood vessel replacement surgery performed for an abdominal aortic aneurysm is generally open surgery, in which a part of the blood vessel is removed by surgical manipulation.

Therefore, it is known as one of the dangerous surgeries and is accompanied by a risk of cerebral infarction or infection. The elderly and the weak are at a high risk of dying in the worst case, so if a stent graft can be performed, it is sometimes recommended.

Through surgery, the part with the lump is replaced with an artificial blood vessel. Because the artificial blood vessel is replaced with an artificial blood vessel instead of a weakened artery wall, if the surgery is successful, the artificial blood vessel can be used semi-permanently, so there is no risk of rupture in the future.

stent graft implantation

What is stent grafting?

It is a less burdensome operation than artificial blood vessel replacement surgery, which has been applied clinically in Europe and the United States since around 1990. The biggest feature of this operation is that it does not have to be left in a coma like artificial vascular replacement surgery. In surgery, there is very little burden on the body, such as the joint of the leg, which only needs to be cut by a few centimeters.

A thin, folded tube (sheath) is placed in the weakened arterial wall and expanded at the site of the lump to close it. By doing so, you reinforce the blood vessel from the inside and prevent the aneurysm from rupturing. Depending on the location of the aneurysm, surgery may not be possible, so it is important to determine whether a stent graft can be performed as a preliminary examination.

age difference in aneurysms

Are there age differences in the onset of aneurysms?

In general, it is known that people over the age of 70 are more prone to the disease. However, as you get older, surgery becomes more difficult physically.

organize

An aneurysm is a disease in which part of an artery becomes weak and bulges from the inside. Most of them are asymptomatic, so some people may not even notice the degree of swelling. However, as the symptoms progress and rupture, the symptoms worsen rapidly. Severe pain may come or you may fall into a state of shock, which can lead to the worst death. It can be dangerous not to go to the hospital just because you are asymptomatic. If you have any symptoms to be concerned about, we recommend an early consultation with a medical institution.