An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in a part of the aorta—the body’s main artery that transports blood from the heart to the rest of the body—that occurs when that section of the aorta weakens and becomes overstretched. While aortic aneurysms most often are caused by tobacco use, high blood pressure, or hardening of the arteries, they can be caused by severe trauma in a serious car accident or slip and fall accident. In severe cases, the aorta can burst, causing an emergency life-threatening situation for the victim that is often fatal.
Four Treatments for Aortic Aneurysm
An aneurysm is most common in the stomach area, although it can occur in any part of the aorta. Unfortunately, a person suffering with this condition often does not experience any symptoms, making it more difficult for a doctor to diagnose and treat it. With a small aneurysm that grows over time, a person could experience the following:
- Pulsating sensations near the navel
- Severe, constant pain in the abdomen or to the sides of it
- Back pain
The larger the aneurysm is, the more likely it is to tear or rupture—a life-threatening situation due to internal bleeding. Signs of a ruptured aortic aneurysm are:
- Sudden and intense back or abdominal pain
- Sweating or becoming clammy
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Low blood pressure
- Losing consciousness
- Experiencing shortness of breath
The treatment options for an aortic aneurysm will depend on the size of the aneurysm. A person could need one of the following treatments:
- Wait and see. If the bulge in the aorta is small—1.6 inches in diameter or less—and the accident victim exhibits no symptoms, his doctor may recommend watching the aneurysm rather than performing more risky surgery.
- Medium aneurysm. For an aneurysm between 1.6 inches and 2.1 inches in diameter, the treatment decision is less clear because the patient faces risks of the surgery and risks that the aneurysm would rupture. The victim will need to discuss the best treatment option with his physician.
- Open-abdominal surgery. If an aneurysm is larger than 2.2 inches in diameter, leaking, or growing fast, the patient will most likely require surgery because of the high risk the aneurysm would burst. In open-abdominal surgery, the damaged part of the aorta is replaced with a synthetic tube which is sewn into place.
- Endovascular surgery. This is a less invasive surgery where the synthetic tube is inserted through an artery in the leg and threaded up into the aorta to the aortic aneurysm and used in the aorta’s repair.
Did you suffer an aortic aneurysm after a car or slip and fall accident caused by a person or business? You may be able to make the negligent business or person that caused your accident responsible for compensating you. Fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation.