Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
An aneurysm indicates a localized dilation of a blood vessel. An aortic aneursym is a medical condition where a large artery bulges. This usually occurs due to some inherent weakness in the aortic wall at a particular location. Abdominal aortic aneurysm generally occurs due to infection, congenital weakening of the arterial wall or trauma. With an aortic aneurysm, there is a risk of rupture and possible internal hemorrhage. Rupture of an aneurysm is a medical emergency. If not treated immediately, this condition can be fatal. Men are more likely to develop abdominal aortic aneurysm. Typically this condition occurs in the age group of 60 - 70 years.
Cigarettte smoking, hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol can increase the risk of developing aortic aneurysm. Most of the time abdominal aortic aneurysm is asymptomatic. This condition is often noticed during abdominal scan or CT scan. Often aortic aneurysms develop over time. The common cause of an aortic aneursym is arteriosclerosis. This consequently leads to weakened aortic walls. An abdominal aortic aneurysm may cause throbbing in a part of the abdominal mass. But if there has been a rupture, it can result in severe pain in the lower back. The person is likely to feel faint and light headed. There is excessive thirst and tachycardia.
Abdominal x-rays and angriography of aorta can help reveal an aortic aneurysm. The complications of an aortic aneurysm include myocardial infection, arterial embolism and stroke. Medications are prescribed to those suffering from small aortic aneurysms. This can slow down the rate of growth of the aneurysm.
Surgical treatment of aortic aneurysm involves opening up the aortal dilation and inserting a patch tube. Surgery is resorted to depending on the state of the aneurysm and its risk of rupture. Stenting is another surgical option for abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Dissecting Thoracic Aneurysm
Aneurysm refers to a localized dilation or widening of an artery, especially in the abdominal aorta. Dilation occurs to an extent more than 50%. Thoracic aneurysm occurs in the thoracic aorta. Dissecting thoracic aneurysm is a condition where a tear occurs on the aorta. This creates a passage for blood between the aortal layers and leads to a dangerous condition. A false channel is thus created for the arterial blood. Besides it may hamper the blood supply to tributary arteries. This aneurysm occurs typically in the thoracic aorta. When there is excessive dilation of the artery, an aortic aneurysm can rupture. Internal bleeding can result and can be life-threatening. Usually the symptoms begin to appear when the aneurysm has become fairly large. A person suffering from dissecting thoracic aneurysm experiences severe abdominal and back pain. The pain is high up on the back, between the shoulder blades. There is increased risk of stroke or heart attack. The voice becomes hoarse and there is difficulty in swallowing. Persons suffering from dissection may experience symptoms similar to paraplegia or stroke due to impaired blood suppply to the spinal chord and limbs. Marfan's syndrome is a variant of this condition. Traumatic aneurysms are caused by injury to the chest or blunt chest trauma.
Diagnosis of dissecting thoracic aneurysm is done with a routine physical examination as well as chest and abdominal x-rays. MRI scan also helps in determining the precise location of the aneurysm. Transthoracic ultrasonography aids in accure sizing of the aneurysm. Patients suffering from thoracic aneurysm condition are advised to avoid smoking and get regular medical check ups done. Blood pressure must be lowered with drugs to reduce the impact on the aortal tear. Surgical treatment for dissecting thoracic aneurysm involves replacing the affected part of the aorta with a synthetic graft.
Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac catheterization is a test which is performed to obtain certain diagnostic information about the heart. Patients may require this medical therapy rather than undergo angioplasty or bypass surgery when they suffer from rare or easily controlled episodes of angina. Alternatively, cardiac catheterization is not performed in patients who have infrequent episodes of angina and in whom angina can be easily controlled. When a patient has heart failure due to suspected coronary artery disease or there is suspected coronary artery disease, cardiac catheterization is conducted. Cardiac catheterization can help:
Measure blood pressure within heart.
Know the amount of oxygen in the blood.
Check the pumping ability of the heart muscle.
Check blood flow through the heart after surgery.
Collect blood samples from the heart.
Inject dye into the coronary arteries.
To provide treatment in certain types of heart conditions like congenital heart defects and how severe it is.
To find out a coronary artery disease and if found to pinpoint the size and location of fat and calcium deposits that have built up in coronary artery from atherosclerosis.
To determine whether the patient needs bypass surgery or angioplasty.
Examine the arteries of the heart with an x-ray technique called fluoroscopy.
The patient is asked not to drink or eat anything, except a small amount of water, for atleast 6 to 12 hours before the test. The patient is tested for allergy to iodine or other medications. Patients suffering from kidney disease or diabetes or bleeding disorders must keep the cardiologist informed. The cardiac catheterization test is performed in a cath lab by a cardiologist. The actual catheterization procedure takes about 15 - 30 minutes. The patient's electrocardiogram that continuously records the electrical activity of the heart is taken. A pulse oximeter device that measures the oxygen levels of the patients' blood is monitored. An intravenous needle is inserted into the patients' vein to give fluids or medicine during the catheterization procedure. A sedative is also given through this IV line which helps the patient to relax.
Cardiac catheterization procedure involves passing a catheter, a thin flexible tube, into the right or left side of the heart. The doctor inserts this thin plastic tube into the groin - femoral artery. Other places where in the catheter may be inserted are the elbow- brachial artery or the wrist - radial artery. From there it is slowly advanced into the chambers of the heart or into the coronary arteries. The doctor watches the progress of the catheter into the heart's vessels and chambers on the imaging screen. Pressures within the heart chambers are measured and the blood and tissue samples are also removed through the catheter. A small amount of dye is also injected through the catheter into the heart chamber or into one of the coronary arteries.
Therapeutic catheterization: Certain types of heart defects can be repaired using catheterization. For instance, if the coronary arteries are blocked, the cardiologist can use a catheter, guide wire and balloon to open and improve blood flow to the heart. This is termed as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Normal result indicate that there is no significant narrowing or blockage in the coronary arteries. Abnormal results may suggest that the heart does not pump blood normally or the valves in the heart may be weak. There may be leakage between heart chambers. There is a possibility of aortic aneurysm. Some complications with cardiac catheterization include heart attack or stroke, hematoma, puncture of the heart or arrhthmias.
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