Aneurysms

Signs and Symptoms

Unfortunately most patients with aneurysms of the aorta have no symptoms, causing the condition to remain undiagnosed until the aneurysm ruptures. Many aneurysms are discovered during computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans that are performed for other health problems.

Some patients have mild symptoms of pain or discomfort in the area of the aneurysm. Severe abdominal, back or groin pain in a patient with an aneurysm could be due to the aneurysm rupturing and should be treated immediately.

Diagnosis

Almost all aneurysms can be detected with safe and painless non-invasive vascular tests, such as ultrasound studies or computed tomography (CT) scans. These tests are performed on an outpatient basis.

The diagnosis of an arterial aneurysm can be a source of anxiety for the patient and their family. Therefore, at UCSF Medical Center our comprehensive approach and decades of experience with aneurysms ensure that patients receive the best evaluation and treatment possible for any type of arterial aneurysm.

Treatment

Aneurysms of the aorta that are large enough to require repair are treated with one of the following:

• Conventional Surgery -- A synthetic graft is sewn inside the aneurysm to the artery above and below it to prevent the aneurysm from rupturing.

• Endovascular Repair -- A newer procedure that uses a catheter inserted in the groin to guide a self-expanding graft to the aneurysm. Endovascular repair does not require an abdominal incision and has a substantially shorter recovery. Not all aneurysms are suitable for endovascular repair.

Smaller aneurysms are monitored with ultrasound tests to watch their growth. Many never enlarge to a size that requires repair.

Aneurysms also can occur in other blood vessels, particularly in the arteries of the leg. These aneurysms are dangerous because they generally contain blood clots. The blood clots can break off and block arteries that are further downstream. In other instances the entire aneurysm can clot. Both of these situations can lead to decreased blood flow to the leg. Therefore, aneurysms found in the arteries of the leg are usually repaired as soon as possible once they are detected.