What is an Aortic Aneurysm?
An aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel, and can be dangerous because of the risk of bursting. The aorta is the main artery that leads away from the heart. When the it develops aneurysms, they typically occur in the abdomen below the kidneys, but can also occur in the chest cavity.

What causes it?
Aortic aneurysms can happen because of atherosclerosis,  which is the weakening of the aortic wall by plaque. Aneurysms may also be hereditary.

What are the symptoms?
Small aneurysms may not show any symptoms, but others can be very painful in the area of the aneurysm.

Tests & Procedures
Aneurysms can be detected by X-ray or various imaging techniques.  Click on any of the tests below to learn more:

• Echocardiography
• MRI

Treatment Options
The larger the aneurysm, the more likely it is to burst. Aneurysms are treated with surgery, where a patch or artificial piece of blood vessel is placed where the aneurysm was to strengthen the aorta and prevent future bursting.  Click here to learn more about our Vascular Surgery Program.