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Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

An aneurysm is an area of an artery that balloons and becomes weak. The larger the aneurysm grows, the weaker it becomes, putting you at risk of rupture. A thoracic aortic aneurysm is one that occurs in the upper area of the aorta, the major blood vessel that delivers oxygen and nutrients to your body. If a tear or rupture occurs in the aortic wall, life-threatening bleeding can occur.

Not all thoracic aortic aneurysms grow at the same speed and there are some that never grow larger at all. Those that enlarge at a fast rate are the most likely to rupture. Most of the time, the Hackensack vascular surgeon will take a “wait-and-see” approach to determine if the aneurysm is growing and, if so, how quickly. If there is reason for concern surgery may be recommended

If your thoracic aortic aneurysm is growing, you may have symptoms of back pain, pain or tenderness in the chest, cough, hoarseness, or shortness of breath. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with one of our leading vascular surgeons in Bergen County to have your condition diagnosed.

Many people with this condition do not experience any symptoms until a tear or rupture occurs. If that happens, you may feel a sudden, sharp pain in the upper back or pain in your jaw, neck, chest, or arms along with difficulty breathing.

People with atherosclerosis, genetic conditions like Marfan syndrome, inflammatory conditions, problems with their heart’s aortic valve, untreated infection, or who have experienced a traumatic injury may also be at greater risk of thoracic aortic aneurysm. Don’t take the chance that your symptoms won’t turn into an emergency situation. Let our specialists evaluate your risk and keep you from facing a sudden emergency situation.

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