Treatment for Aortic Aneurysm: It depends on the cause or size of the disease or how quickly it is growing. Your consultant may recommend surgery to repair it if needed. For ruptured, it may also be required to have quick emergency surgery. People with the disease may experience symptoms like chest pain, dyspnea, or no symptoms at all. A ruptured aneurysm was certified as a cause of death in 36% of the patients with an AAA of 5.5 to 5.9 cm, in 50% of the patients with an AAA of 6 to 7.0 cm, and in 55% of the patients with an AAA larger than 7.0 cm.
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Recently, Grant Wahl (Dec 2, 1973 – Dec 10, 2022), an American sports journalist died of a ruptured Aortic Aneurysm at the 2022 world cup in Doha, Qatar. On Saturday, a soccer analyst collapsed while covering the world cup match between Argentina and Netherlands.
However, Grant’s wife Dr. Céline Gounder revealed the cause of death on “CBC Mornings” on Wednesday. “He had an autopsy done here in New York by the New York City medical examiner’s office, and it showed that he had an aortic aneurysm that ruptured,” she said on the show.
What is the Treatment for Aortic Aneurysm?
Generally, two common surgical methods are used to treat the disease. Both methods are described below:
- Open Surgical Repair is one of the most common types of surgery. In the procedure, the surgical team makes a large cut on your stomach or chest depending upon the location of the aneurysm. Then, the aneurysm is removed and a graft is sewn in its place. This sewn graft is made of leakproof polyester. Usually, it takes about a month to recover.
- Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) requires a small cut as compared to open surgical repair. Therefore, it is less invasive and usually needs a shorter recovery time. It is done by cardiac catheterization. The surgical team makes a cut, usually on the groin, and then guides a stent graft. A tube covered with fabric — through your blood vessels up to the aorta. The stent graft then expands and attaches to the aortic walls. A seal forms between the stent graft and the vessel wall to prevent blood from entering the aortic aneurysm.
Potential Surgical Risks
Beware of the complications that may be life-threatening. However, these include:
- Bleeding
- Blood Clots
- Damage to Blood Vessels
- Endoleak
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Heart Problems
- Infection
- Kidney Damage
- Reduced Flow of Blood
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Stroke
Tips for Healthy Lifestyle Changes
Patients suffering from Aortic Aneurysm disease are advised to follow the below guidelines to avoid the inevitable occurrence. However, the following tips are described below:
- Say no to smoking is an important part of your treatment to slow down the growth of the aneurysm. It has been observed, especially in women, that quitting smoking reduces the risk of an aneurysm to be ruptured.
- Heart-healthy foods and managing stress also support lower high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol.
- Heavyweight and Stimulants such as cocaine should also be avoided to reduce the risk of aneurysm rupture.
Read more: Treatment for Aortic Aneurysm
