An aortic aneurysm is a serious condition in which the walls of your aorta — the main artery that carries oxygenated blood from your heart to the rest of your body — bulge or balloon out. If an aneurysm ruptures, it’s a medical emergency, so understandably, being diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm can feel unnerving, and you may have many questions about your next steps.
Each case is different, but know that our providers at Vascular Specialists take the time to answer all of your questions and explain every aspect of your care plan. Here, we provide guidance about your next steps after an aortic aneurysm diagnosis.
Not all aneurysms are the same. Depending on the location, it’s called a thoracic aortic aneurysm (in your chest) or an abdominal aortic aneurysm (in your belly). The shape may also vary: fusiform aneurysms are symmetrical, while saccular aneurysms bulge on one side.
Some are small and stable, while others may grow over time and require intervention. Knowing the location, size, and type of aneurysm you have helps your vascular care team determine the best treatment path.
Your Vascular Specialists provider will likely use vascular ultrasound imaging to monitor the aneurysm and assess its growth over time.
For many people, the first step after diagnosis isn’t surgery. This is especially true for those with smaller aneurysms.
If you have a small aneurysm, your next step is likely active monitoring and lifestyle changes, which may include:
These conservative approaches have two goals: to slow aneurysm growth and to reduce your risk of rupture.
We may recommend intervention for your aortic aneurysm to prevent rupture if:
Rupture isn’t a sure thing, but it’s a risk. One study of patients with a large abdominal aortic aneurysm revealed that among those who did not undergo repair, 9.1% experienced a rupture.
Depending on your specific circumstances, we may recommend one of the following interventions:
Endovascular repair is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a catheter to place a stent graft inside your aorta. Unlike open surgery, you don’t need an incision in your chest or abdomen. Instead, we perform the whole procedure through a catheter that we feed through a puncture in your leg.
Endovascular techniques can be used for both standard repairs and complex ones.
Open surgery may be necessary for certain types or locations of aneurysms, especially when endovascular repair isn’t suitable.
Regardless of the type of repair you need, both procedures aim to reinforce the weakened artery wall and prevent rupture.
Once you have your initial treatment plan in place — whether that’s nonsurgical or surgical — your next step is to schedule routine follow-ups. Regular visits with the Vascular Specialists team allow us to keep an eye on any changes and adjust your treatment plan as needed.
Even after surgical repair, continued monitoring allows us to catch any complications early and helps us prioritize your long-term health.
Whether you need regular monitoring or advanced surgical care, the team at Vascular Specialists is here to guide you every step of the way. With locations in Tinley Park, Illinois, or Munster, Indiana, help for aortic aneurysm management is just a call or click away.
You can contact us at 815-824-4406 or through our online scheduling system.
