Meaning of Aneurysm
The aneurysm is a bulge filled with blood that is medically described as a pathological dilation of the blood vessels , located in the arteries or veins as the walls are altered by a sudden or progressive degeneration of the same. True aneurysms are classified as those that form in the walls of blood vessels and false aneurysms in which the spaces that connect the arteries in a normal opening are filled with blood, these being the most frequent.
It constitutes a widening or dilation in a blood vessel, which may be veins or arteries, due to an alteration or damage at the level of the vascular walls, this can lead to the breakdown of the continuity of the blood vessel and therefore to the development of internal bleeding, one of the most common being the aortic aneurysm.
From the etymological point of view the word comes from the Greek " aneurysma " which refers to a dilation.
Symptoms of aneurysm
These are asymptomatic and symptoms are only observed once the rupture of the blood vessel occurs, among these are the following:
- Presence of a severe headache . (Mainly when the location is cerebral)
- Vomiting and nausea (When widening presses on nerves at the brain level)
- Stiffness at the neck level, cough and shortness of breath (Mainly in the aortic location)
- Convulsions . (It generally occurs as a symptom prior to the rupture in dilation at the brain level)
- Loss of consciousness.
- Right at the moment of rupture, there may be pain in the area or a sensation of pressure, accompanied by alterations in blood pressure and heart rhythm.
Types of aneurysm
There are several ways to classify them according to certain particular characteristics, these are divided as follows:
According to its shape
According to the form they present, they can be divided into two large groups:
Saccular aneurysm
It is when a good part of the blood vessel wall is normal, but the other that composes it is not and is dilated, preventing circulation . Its name is due to the fact that it is observed as a kind of sac and is located mainly at the intersections of blood vessels.
Fusiform aneurysm
It is when the blood vessel dilates, deforming in a diffuse way, it presents a circumferential shape and is associated with arteriosclerosis of the blood vessels.
According to the location
In this sense, it is classified according to the area in which said dilation occurs, ranging from an abdominal aneurysm to an aneurysm in the heart.
Brain aneurysm
Corresponds to the presence of this pathological dilation in a blood vessel that supplies the brain, these are responsible for what is known as hemorrhagic stroke once it ruptures.
Among the sequelae of a cerebral aneurysm , after its rupture, the following can be mentioned:
- Hydrocephalus
- Vasospasm.
- Hyponatremia
- New bleeding.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm
It appears as a pathological widening in the main artery that supplies blood to the human body, basically due to an alteration in the structures of its walls. This type has a higher frequency of occurring in elderly men and smokers, its rupture is highly fatal.
Popliteal artery aneurysm
Alteration in the walls of the artery that runs posterior to the knee joint and causes its pathological widening of more than 1.5 cm in general.
Mesenteric artery aneurysm
It is one of the less frequent types, it presents as a pathological widening of the mesenteric artery , which has an abdominal location, presenting an incidence that approaches 2%, it is asymptomatic as the majority until the moment of its breaking off.
Splenic artery aneurysm
It is the third most frequent form of this pathological widening at the abdominal level, exceeded in incidence by that of the aorta and iliac arteries , its dilation generally corresponds to more than 50% of its normal diameter .
Causes of aneurysms
Currently the specific cause of the formation of this pathology is not clear, however, it is known that in some cases there is a congenital component , mostly due to the weakening of the walls of the blood vessels due to the presence of some underlying pathology , and some studies even associate the development to certain behaviors, such as the case of stress aneurysm .
Among the factors considered to be risky, the following may be mentioned:
- High blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Smoking
- Diabetes.
- Obesity.
- Alcoholism.
Treatment of aneurysms
The treatment basically depends on the location and stage of it, this goes from standby under constant supervision and control with medication, to the need for emergency surgery face a high risk of rupture or the same.
For example, in the case of a brain location widening, medications are indicated to control vascular pressure in the area and certain procedures are performed to prevent future rupture, such as the well-known aneurysm clipping . In the event of a rupture, emergency brain aneurysm surgery, called surgical stapling, is required.