Thoracic aorta aneurysm

DEFINITIONS

Aneurysm is a protrusion (dilation, dilatation) on the walls of an artery.
Thoracic aorta aneurysm occurred in a part of the aorta that passes through the chest. 25% of the thoracic aneurysm is an aneurysm.

In one form of specific thoracic aneurysm, enlargement of the aorta occurs in place out of the heart.
This widening can cause dysfunction of the heart valves and aorta (aortic valve), so that when the valve is closed, blood seeping back into the heart.

CAUSE

Approximately 50% of patients have marfan syndrome or variations.
In the other 50% of patients, the disease has no cause, although many patients who have high blood pressure.

SYMPTOMS

Thoracic aortic aneurysm can grow very large without causing symptoms.
The symptoms that arise as a result of suppression by the widening of the aorta in the surrounding structures. The typical symptoms are pain (usually on the upper back), coughing and wheezing sound.

Patients may experience coughing up blood because of pressure or erosion on the windpipe (trachea) and the respiratory tract in the vicinity.
The emphasis of the esophagus can cause difficulty swallowing.
Emphasis on the vocal cords can cause the patient's voice becomes hoarse.

Patients may develop Horner's syndrome consists of:
- Pengkerutan pupils
- Eyelid reduction
- Sweat only on one side of the face.

If the thoracic aortic aneurysm rupture, usually will occur incredible pain in the upper back. This pain may spread to the lower back and into the stomach. Pain can also be felt in the chest and arm, resembling a heart attack (myocardial miokardial).
Patients can quickly fall into a state of shock and died from loss of blood.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis based on symptoms or are accidentally discovered in an inspection.
On chest examination, the doctor can feel the pulse of abnormal chest wall.

Chest X-rays can show a shift from air tube (trachea).
CT, MRI or ultrasound is used to determine transesofageal exact size of the aneurysm.
Aortografi usually used to help determine the type of surgery that needs to be done.

TREATMENT

If the width of the thoracic aortic aneurysm reaches 7.5 cm, surgical repair is usually performed with implantation of artificial
In patients with marfan syndrome aneurismanya although smaller, surgery is recommended for improvement, because it tends to rupture.
The death rate during surgery is quite high, at around 10-15%.

Treatment with drugs (beta blockers) given to reduce heart rate and blood pressure that will reduce the risk of aneurysm rupture.