What are the Types of Aneurysms Surgeries?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Aneurysm Surgeries?
A surgical procedure done for the treatment of an aneurysm is known as aneurysm surgery. An aneurysm is a condition of bulging or ballooning of a blood vessel (usually an artery) wall. This happens due to the weakening of the artery wall. An aneurysm usually develops slowly and has no symptoms seen initially. Initial treatment involves monitoring the size of the aneurysm every six to twelve months. Once the aneurysm becomes bigger in size, symptoms start to appear and the aneurysm may burst to cause a life-threatening condition. This is prevented by emergency surgery. There are different types of surgeries that can be performed to treat an aneurysm. In this article, we will be discussing in detail the different types of aneurysm surgeries.
- What are the different types of Aneurysms?
- What are the causes of Aneurysms?
- What are the risk factors of Aneurysms?
- What are the symptoms of Aneurysms?
- What is the diagnostic procedure before Aneurysm Surgeries?
- How to prepare for Aneurysm Surgeries?
- What is the procedure of Aneurysm Surgeries?
- How to care after Aneurysm Surgeries?
- What are the risks of Aneurysm Surgeries?
- How to prevent Aneurysms?
What are the different types of Aneurysms?
The different types of aneurysms, based on their location in the body are:
- Aortic aneurysm: It is an aneurysm seen in the aorta (main blood vessel of the heart carrying blood from the heart to the other organs of the body). Aneurysm seen in the section of the aorta that passes through the abdomen (stomach) area is known as abdominal aortic aneurysm, and the section that passes through the chest area is known as a thoracic aortic aneurysm.
- Cerebral or brain aneurysm: This type of aneurysm is seen in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain.
( Know more about- What is Brain Aneurysm Surgery? )
- Peripheral aneurysm: This kind of aneurysm is seen in the blood vessels that supply blood to the other parts of the body, like the neck, groin, or legs.
What are the causes of Aneurysms?
Aneurysms can occur due to the following reasons:
- High blood pressure
- Atherosclerosis (deposit of plaque in the blood vessel wall)
- Congenital aneurysm (present from birth)
- Injury
- Inherited diseases
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Kidney diseases
- Infection
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What are the risk factors of Aneurysms?
The following factors increase the risk of developing aneurysms:
- Age of over 65 years
- Family history
- Overweight individuals or obesity
- High blood pressure
( Know more about- What is Hypertension? )
- Smoking
- Poor diet
- Brain aneurysms are commonly seen in women
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm is commonly seen in men
- Sedentary lifestyle
( Know more about- What are the symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Diseases? )
What are the symptoms of Aneurysms?
Aneurysms usually show no symptoms in the initial stage. The symptoms associated with the different types of aneurysms include:
Abdominal aortic aneurysm:
- Back pain
- Pain in the abdominal region
- The feeling of pulsation near the belly button
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Thoracic aortic aneurysm:
- Breathing difficulties
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Hoarseness of voice
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Pain in the upper back, chest, and jaw region
( Know more about- What is Hoarseness in Voice ? )
- Unruptured cerebral aneurysm:
- Numbness on one side of the face
- Blurred vision
- Double vision
- Dilation of the pupil
- Pain above and behind one eye
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- Ruptured aneurysm:
- Confusion
- Double vision
-
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
- Drooping eyelid
- Seizure
- Sensitivity to light
- Stiffness of neck
- Sudden and severe headache
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What is the diagnostic procedure before Aneurysm Surgeries?
- Physical examination: The doctor will check the overall physical health of the patient. The patient’s symptoms, medical history, and family history are noted by the doctor.
- CT scan, MRI scan, vascular ultrasound: These are imaging tests done to obtain clear images of the heart or brain, and check for any abnormalities in the blood vessels like blockages or blood clots.
- Chest x-ray: It helps in obtaining pictures of the organs inside the chest region, like the lungs, heart, and blood vessels.
- Angiogram: A long, flexible tube, called a catheter, is inserted into a blood vessel through the neck, arm, or groin region. The catheter is threaded to the heart and a dye is injected inside the catheter. The dye travels to the brain or heart. X-rays are later taken to check for abnormalities in the blood vessels.
( Know more about– What is Angiography? )
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test measures the electrical activity of the heart and helps in diagnosing various heart problems.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG): This test helps to measure the electrical activity of the brain, and helps in diagnosing the irregularities in the brain.
- Echocardiography: Sound waves are used to create images of the heart, and to check if the valves and chambers of the heart are working well.
( Know more about- What is Echocardiography? )
- Spinal tap or lumbar puncture: This procedure is done to extract and examine a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to check the presence of blood, which could indicate a leaking or ruptured aneurysm.
- Stress test: This test helps to check if the heart is working well during physical activity.
How to prepare for Aneurysm Surgeries?
- Tell your doctor about any medical diseases that you may be having.
- Tell your doctor if you are currently taking any medications, herbs, or supplements.
- If you are sensitive or allergic to any medicines, anesthetic agents, latex, tape, or iodine, inform your doctor about the same.
- Do not eat or drink anything 8 hours before the surgery.
- Quit smoking at least two weeks before the surgery.
- You will be told to stop taking blood-thinning medications like aspirin or warfarin a couple of days before the surgery.
- Take a well-balanced diet and exercise regularly to lose any excess weight that you may be having before the procedure.
- You will be given a laxative to clear your bowels the day before the surgery.
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What is the procedure of Aneurysm Surgeries?
When the aneurysm is small in size, the doctor opts for regular monitoring by check-ups and imaging tests to check for the growth of the aneurysm.
In the case of larger aneurysms, which are symptomatic and growing rapidly, surgery is recommended. The procedure is generally performed under general anesthesia (the patient is asleep during the procedure).
The various types of aneurysm surgeries include:
Open abdominal surgery:
- The surgeon makes a large incision (cut) in the abdomen or chest, depending on the area where the aneurysm exists.
- The damaged area of the aorta is separated and replaced by a synthetic graft, and then sutured (stitched) into place.
- The procedure takes 3 to 4 hours to complete.
- The patient normally stays in the hospital for 7 to 10 days after the surgery.
Endovascular repair:
- This is a minimally-invasive type of procedure, which is done without opening the aorta surgically.
- The surgeon first inserts a catheter and guidewire through an artery in the leg or groin area.
- A deflated synthetic graft is carried on the tip of the catheter.
- The synthetic graft has the ability to expand like spring after the catheter is in its place.
- The synthetic graft reinforces the walls of the aorta.
- The blood flows through the synthetic graft.
- This type of surgery has lesser pain and complications, and a quicker recovery compared to open surgery.
- This procedure cannot repair all kinds of aneurysms.
- The patient stays in the hospital for 2 to 4 days after this type of surgery.
Emergency surgery in case of a ruptured aneurysm:
- An aneurysm with an increased risk of rupture or a ruptured aneurysm requires emergency surgery.
Surgical clipping for cerebral aneurysm:
- A part of the skull is removed by the surgeon using a craniotomy procedure, which is a procedure in which a part of the bone flap is temporarily removed to locate and access the aneurysm.
- A metal clip is placed by the surgeon on the neck of the aneurysm.
- This helps in obliterating the blood flow.
Endovascular therapy or coiling for brain aneurysm:
- This is a minimally-invasive type of procedure.
- A catheter or a hollow tube is inserted by the surgeon through a small cut made in the groin region.
- A guidewire is passed through the catheter, and a soft platinum wire is pushed into the aneurysm.
- The blood flow to the aneurysm is then cut off using a coiling wire around the base of the artery, where blood is supplied to the aneurysm.
Flow diverters for brain aneurysm:
- Flow diverters are tubular, stent-like implants that are used to divert the blood away from the aneurysm sac.
- The body is stimulated for site healing and to reconstruct the patent artery.
( Know more about- What is Heart Bypass Surgery?)
How to care after Aneurysm Surgeries?
- The effect of anesthesia will wear off after a few hours.
- A breathing tube is placed in the patient’s mouth and is normally removed in a couple of days. The patient is unable to talk during this time.
- It is normal to have a sore throat for a few days after the removal of the breathing tube.
- A hospital stay of two to five days is required after an endovascular procedure.
- A hospital stay of 7 to 10 days is required after open surgery.
- It is normal to have some pain and bruising after the procedure.
- You may be given pain-relieving medications to relieve your pain.
- The recovery time depends on the type of procedure done, the age, and the overall health of the patient.
- Exercise regularly for a quicker recovery.
- Follow all the diet, lifestyle, and activity restrictions that your doctor recommends.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual signs or symptoms after the surgery.
- Complete recovery can take anywhere between fifteen days to a few months.
- Follow-up visits with your doctor are a must, to check the status of the graft.
- Few additional maintenance procedures may be required later on for maintaining the graft.
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What are the risks of Aneurysm Surgeries?
The various complications of aneurysm surgeries are:
- Heart-related problems
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Swelling
- Allergic reaction to anesthetic agents
- Respiratory infections
- Urinary infections
- Kidney problems
- Lung problems
- Spinal cord injury
- Damage to the surrounding organs, and blood vessels
- Endoleak (leakage of blood out of the graft into the sac of an aneurysm with potential rupture)
- Heart attack
- Arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms)
- Bowel injury
- Blood clot formation
- Confusion
- Behavior changes due to nerve injury in the brain
- Seizures
- Stroke
- Fatigue
- Speech problems
- Vision problems
- Swelling of the brain
- Death
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How to prevent Aneurysms?
Some healthy lifestyle changes can help in preventing aneurysms. These changes may include:
- Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Quit smoking
- Exercise regularly
- Manage stress
- Treatment of diseases like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes
- Regular screening tests for abdominal aortic aneurysm after 65 years of age
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We hope that we could answer all your questions regarding types of aneurysm surgeries through this article.
If you need more information about the types of aneurysm surgeries, you can contact a Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon.
We only aim to provide you with information through this article. We do not recommend any medication or treatment to anyone. Only a qualified doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
