The primary channel that transports blood from the heart to all regions of the body is the aorta. Blood is forced into the aorta with each heartbeat, and its wall extends and then relaxes after supplying blood to all of the body's organs. Due to the pulsatile nature of blood in the aorta, there is pressure on its wall, which can bulge at points of weakness, causing aortic aneurysm (ballooning of the aortic wall). If the aneurysm ruptures or leaks, it might have significant implications.
One of the most common causes of aortic aneurysm is high blood pressure.
Aortic valve disease: Aortic valve illness can affect the neighbouring aorta and lead to an aortic aneurysm in the future. In a surgery known as Bentalls, both the aotic valve and the aorta are sometimes repaired at the same time.
Atherosclerosis: The build-up of plaque in the aorta's walls can potentially cause atherosclerosis.
Illness: The aorta can be harmed by any infection in the body.
Most of the time, there are no visible symptoms linked with this condition. However, some of the visible signs, such as chest pain, can be mistaken for a heart attack. When it leaks or ruptures, it might cause low blood pressure.
This is a significant issue that, if left unaddressed, might have disastrous consequences.
The first strategy is to keep blood pressure under control so that the aorta wall is not overworked and growth is delayed.
If aneurysms have grown to a specific size, that section of the aorta will need to be repaired. The repair can be done in one of two ways: endovascular with the use of a stent transplant or surgically.
A stent graft device is positioned across the aneurysmal segment and when deployed, it excludes the aneurysm from the vessel wall. Endovascular aorta repair is performed through a small puncture in the groyne.
