Thoracic aortic aneurysm is a disease in which one or more parts of the aorta protrude outward due to various reasons, forming a "tumor like" change. It mainly occurs in the aortic sinus, ascending aorta, aortic arch or descending aorta, and is a manifestation of degenerative changes, manifested as abnormal dilation and deformation of the thoracic aorta, and presenting as a protruding tumor like appearance.

Symptom manifestations

The symptoms of thoracic aortic aneurysm vary depending on its size and location, and some patients may have no obvious symptoms, which can be detected during routine physical examination or chest X-ray examination. The main symptoms include:

Early symptoms may include coughing, shortness of breath, pneumonia, and atelectasis.

In the late stage, symptoms such as hoarseness, diaphragmatic paralysis, swelling of the upper limbs and neck, face, upper chest, and chest pain may occur.

When the tumor expands or is on the verge of rupture, it may cause tearing like pain.

Arterial aneurysm can compress the trachea and bronchi, leading to coughing and difficulty breathing; Pressing the esophagus can cause difficulty swallowing; Compressing the recurrent laryngeal nerve may lead to hoarseness.

therapeutic method

There are various treatment methods for thoracic aortic aneurysm, mainly including:

General treatment: For patients with no obvious symptoms and small tumors, general treatment measures such as observation and avoiding vigorous exercise can be taken.

Drug therapy: Small diameter thoracic aortic aneurysms can be treated with drugs such as beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, etc. These drugs can slow down cardiac load, lower blood pressure and heart rate, thereby reducing pressure and tension on the aortic wall and helping to slow down the growth rate of the aneurysm.

Surgical treatment:

Open chest surgery: For thoracic aortic aneurysms with a diameter greater than 5 centimeters, surgical treatment is usually required to remove the aneurysm and repair it with appropriately sized artificial blood vessels.

Percutaneous puncture intervention therapy: With the development of minimally invasive technology, intervention therapy has also become an effective treatment method, which treats the lesion site under the guidance of an angiography instrument.

Regular Follow up: Regardless of the treatment method used, patients need to undergo regular follow-up examinations to evaluate the size and growth rate of the tumor, and to promptly detect and treat possible complications.

Lifestyle adjustment: Patients also need to pay attention to lifestyle adjustments to avoid the adverse effects of overwork, emotional excitement, etc. on the body. At the same time, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, and maintaining healthy eating habits can also help prevent the development of diseases.

In general, the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysm should be selected according to the specific situation of the patient, and the doctor's advice should be strictly followed for treatment and follow-up.