Definition of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Surgery

A condition that kills more than 14,000 Americans each year, a thoracic aortic aneurysm initially is treated with medicine. Surgery acts on larger aneurysms to repair or replace a damaged artery wall.

Identification

• A thoracic aortic aneurysm is a bulging or ballooning of the wall of the aorta, the large artery that transports blood from the heart to the rest of the body. It is called a thoracic aortic aneurysm when it occurs in the chest area.

Symptoms

• The condition often develops without causing any symptoms. However, as it grows larger, warning signals may include pain in the jaw, neck, back or chest, persistent cough, hoarseness or difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Treatment

• Medical treatment centers on prescriptions to lower blood pressure and relax the pressure causing the bulge in the aortic wall. Surgery is the primary option to repair large aneurysms.

Surgery

• "During surgery, the weak or damaged portion of the aorta is replaced or reinforced," says the U.S. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. In this traditional technique, an incision is made is the abdominal area with a graft used for replacement or reinforcement.

Considerations

• More recently, the definition of thoracic aortic aneurysm surgery has grown to include an updated process. "Newer catheter-based technologies allow minimally invasive treatment of aortic aneurysms," according to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. This results in a shorter hospital stay.