Aneurysm Treatment

An aneurysm (aneurism) is a condition that occurs due to the weakening of the walls of a blood vessel or some causative disease. It is characterized by a localized, blood-filled, balloon-shaped lump or swelling, generally in the arteries at the root of the brain (the circle of Willis) and in the aorta or the main artery of the heart. The condition can be fatal if the lump bursts, chances of which increases as it grows. Hence, it needs to be diagnosed and checked the moment there are any indications of the condition

Diagnosis of different types of aneurysm

Diagnosis of aneurysm includes a through screening of a patient’s medical history especially family records. Thereafter it involves listening to the heart and arteries in the neck, blood pressure tests and checking the abdomen for any bulky formation.

Aneurysm in the chest or abdomen can be detected by an ultrasound of the affected blood vessels. Chest aneurysm often requires a more invasive test called transesophageal echocardiogram; and cerebral aneurysm must be detected with even more invasive test called an angiogram. Other tests may include a chest X Ray, CAT scan and MRI.

Types of treatment

Surgery is the primary mode of treatment and highly effective in cases where there are no risks involved. Drugs are also given in both surgical and non-surgical cases. In surgical cases, it is initially prescribed while the condition of the aneurysm is monitored and the bulge is operated only when it poses a threat to the patient’s life. In non-surgical patients, drugs are the only form of therapy. The drugs are aimed at minimizing the risk of the bulge bursting, by reducing the patient’s blood pressure or the force of the heart’s contractions.

Surgical procedure

There are two methods of surgery. In one, the surgery neutralizes an aneurysm by inserting a clip that blocks blood supply to the dilated area. The other involves removing the aneurysm and that part of the artery replaced with a synthetic graft. Call 832-858-2096 now