Aneurysm and Dissection

Aneurysm is generally any dilation of an artery which increases in the course of time due to the high pressure in vessels; in this case it is an aneurysm of the aorta (the vessel leading directly from the heart). Such aneurysm is suitable for the operation, which reaches certain defined limits because further dilation of the aneurysm threatens with its rupture and bleeding to death. The cause of aneurysm is usually arteriosclerosis, non-treated high pressure or congenital diseases of connective tissues. The symptoms of an aorta aneurysm may be of a non-specific nature, from swallowing problems, through back pains to hoarseness, which is caused by the compression of the surrounding structures by the aorta aneurysm.
Aortic dissection is the situation when a split appears in the inner part of the aorta wall and blood under pressure pushes layers of its wall apart. A so called dissection channel appears which may rupture at any time and the patient may bleed to death. This status is usually sudden and it most often manifests in strong pain in the back or in the chest and it may be similar to a heart attack and it directly endangers the affected person’s life.
The principle of solving both of these situations is the replacement of the affected section by an artificial prosthetics, and also by the replacement of the aortic valve, if needed.