quick info about

1. Thoracic aortic
aneurysm

2. An aneurysm is an abnormal
widening or ballooning of a portion of
an artery due to weakness in the wall
of the blood vessel.
A thoracic aortic aneurysm occurs in
the part of the body's largest artery
(the aorta) that passes through the
chest.
Define

3. Fusiform fu·si·form: bulges or
balloons out on all sides of the
aorta.
saccular sac·cu·lar: bulges or
balloons out only on one side
shapes
pseudoaneurysm
pseu·do·an·eu·rysm: an
enlargement of only the outer
layer of the blood vessel wall.

4. Ascending Thoracic
Aneurysm
Aortic Arch Thoracic
Aneurysm
Descending Thoracic Aortic
Aneurysm
Abnormal aorta Aneurysm
locations

5. ascending thoracic aneurysm
pain in the chest, neck, and/or back
swelling of head, neck, and arms as a result of pressure on
large blood vessels
heart failure - an ascending aneurysm may affect the heart
valves, causing blood to back up into the heart
aortic arch and descending aneurysm
wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath as a result of
pressure on the trachea (windpipe)
coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
hoarseness as a result of pressure on the vocal cords
difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) due to pressure on the
esophagus
pain in the chest and/or back
General
Tenderness or pain in the chest
Back pain
Hoarseness
Cough
Shortness of breath
signs and symptoms

6. Ascending Thoracic Aneurysm
 cystic medial degeneration (necrosis) - breaking down of the
tissue of the aortic wall. This is the most common cause of this
type of thoracic aortic aneurysm.
 genetic disorders which affect the connective tissue, such as
Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
 family history of thoracic aortic aneurysm with no incidence of
Marfan syndrome
 atherosclerosis - hardening of the arteries caused by a build-up
of plaque in the inner lining of an artery. This is a rare cause of
ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm.
 infection, syphilis (rare causes of thoracic aortic aneurysm)
Aortic Arch Thoracic Aneurysm
 Takayasu's arteritis - a type of vasculitis that causes
inflammation of the arteries
 atherosclerosis
 continuation of an ascending and/or descending aortic aneurysm
Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
 age (greater than 55)
 male gender
 family history (first-degree relatives such as father or brother)
 genetic factors
 hyperlipidemia (elevated fats in the blood)
 hypertension (high blood pressure)
 smoking
 diabetes
causes by location

7. Prevention
Don't use tobacco products.
Keep your blood pressure under control.
Get regular exercise.
Reduce cholesterol and fat in your diet.

8. Massage
Aneurysm can burst