Among all known diseases of the heart and blood vessels, doctors distinguish the category that represents the greatest threat to human life.It includes myocardial infarction, and aortic aneurysm.On the latter we describe in more detail in the article.
Aortic aneurysm of the heart: what is it and how is it dangerous?
aorta - is one of the major arteries in the human body, which is located near the heart.Through her, the blood flows from the main muscles in the rest of the arteries.Cardiac aortic aneurysm is a pathology in which the extension portion of the aorta due to the influence of many factors.Pathology may be either congenital or acquired in nature.
The disease begins with the fact that under the pressure of the blood flow is torn intima.Thus, blood is able to flow directly into the muscle layer.In this condition the patient usually feels painful discomfort in the chest, in the left hand.The skin is pale, the pressure increases, there are nauseating desires.Soaking with blood, the aortic wall is gradually stretched.When rupture a person can lose consciousness.In some cases, instant death occurs from severe blood loss and shock.
pathogenesis of the disease
How is an aortic aneurysm of the heart?What is it for pathology can understand if you know the anatomy of the major muscles of the human body.The myocardium has a thinned wall that constantly protrude during pumping of blood from the ventricle into the other one.If a person has the disease, confining the walls gradually slows down.Such a situation makes it problematic constant blood pumping.
Besides damage to the walls of the aorta in the formation of aneurysms are also actively involved hemodynamic and mechanical factors.The pathology most often arises in functional strain zones that are constantly experiencing increased stress due to the high flow velocity.Chronic aortic trauma and excessive activity of proteolytic enzymes provoke the destruction of elastic frame and the emergence of non-specific nature of the degenerative changes in the vessel wall.
The resulting aneurysm is growing in size, as the pressure on its walls only increases.On the other hand, the blood flow into the aneurysmal sac is slowed and becomes a so-called turbulent.The distal bed gets only 45% of the total volume of blood that is in the aneurysm itself.This is because in its cavity the blood flows along the walls of the central flow constantly holding mechanism turbulence and the presence of large quantities of thrombotic masses.
reasons pathology
Scientists from around the world continue to actively explore a disease like aortic aneurysm of the heart, what is it and what factors contribute to its development.Listed below are some of them:
- Atherosclerosis.Sclerotic plaques formed in the course of this disease can affect the aortic wall and make them flexible enough.
- Diseases infectious nature.Aortic aneurysm of the heart often occurs against a background of syphilis or tuberculosis.
- Congenital disease (Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome).Often the history of occurrence of diseases tracked by considering family history.
- injury and mechanical damage as a result of car accidents.
- Myocardial infarction.This is the most common cause of the disease.In 35% of people with myocardial infarction, diagnosed with an aneurysm of the heart.In this case, it is perceived as its direct continuation.
at increased risk of aneurysm are smokers, hypertensive, overweight people with elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood.According to statistics, aortic aneurysm of the heart is five times more frequently diagnosed in males than in females.Typically, patient age - 50 years.
Classification
pathology in vascular surgery uses several classifications of aortic aneurysms with regard to their immediate location, wall structure, form and etiology.
In accordance with segmental typology distinguished: Aneurysm sinus of Valsalva, ascending / descending part, the aortic arch and abdominal aorta.
Evaluation of the morphological structure of the state aneurysms allows to divide them into true and false.The wall of the latter is represented by connective tissue, which is formed by the formation of a pulsating hematoma.
The shape of the aneurysm can be saccular and fusiform.
What is accompanied by symptoms of pathology?
In most cases, the disease is asymptomatic.Diagnose it randomly, usually during routine inspections or during examination of other organs.Complaints of patients appear if the aneurysm is different and there is rapid growth in the eve of the break.
aneurysm of the ascending aorta of the heart and its arc is usually accompanied by a bright clinical picture, the reason for this is the particular anatomical location.Pathology may put pressure on the ribs and thoracic spine.Patients complain of a cough and shortness of breath due to the compression of the bronchi, heart palpitations, hoarseness.
Long burning pain in the back is characteristic of the pathologies of the thoracic aorta of the heart.In this case, patients usually mark the appearance of dry cough, swelling, dizziness and weakness throughout the body.
During diagnostic examination, the doctor should give special attention to the external characteristics of a person.Extension of palms, tall, kyphosis, the deformation of the sternum - all these signs may be indicative of Marfan syndrome.We have already talked about it in this article.
Unfortunately, very often the first sign of disease is aortic rupture.It manifests profuse bleeding in the digestive organs.The patient has been vomiting with blood, severe chest pain that spreads down the spine.The lack of timely assistance to the patient may result in death.
How to detect an aneurysm?
most often during the next routine inspection doctors diagnosed "aortic aneurysm of the heart."What is it, what are the causes of disease and the basic methods of treatment, the expert must tell the reception in the primary.For a more detailed study of the problem may need a number of additional studies, including CT, MRI, ultrasound.According to the results of the final diagnosis of the doctor receives the full clinical picture of the disease.
On examination it is important to take into account the fact that their symptoms of an aneurysm is similar to other illnesses.That is why a special role in the differential diagnosis given to research.
pathology detection possible by screening.Experts recommend that men take it regularly after 60 years, who can not give up bad habits or have a history of this disease.
Aortic aneurysm of the heart: the treatment
and symptoms and treatment of the disease is directly related.After the doctor will confirm the final diagnosis, you can proceed to treatment.
asymptomatic pathology therapy is limited to the supervision of the state by a vascular surgeon and permanent radiological control.To reduce the risk of complications in some patients administered anticoagulants.
Surgery shown aneurysm large size (4 cm), and in progressive growth.This treatment is recommended to virtually all patients who had to deal with the pathology called "aortic aneurysm of the heart."
operation implies a excision of the affected area of the vessel closure of the defect or replacement of its vascular prosthesis.
Unfortunately, the prognosis of the disease in most cases unfavorable.Since the beginning of the development of aneurysm and die within five years approximately 75% of patients.Half of them die from sudden rupture of the aorta, and the rest - from co-morbidity (stroke, ischemia).
Complications aneurysm
- Vices aortic valve and heart failure.
- aneurysm rupture.Thus there is extensive bleeding into the pleural cavity, respiratory, heart or esophagus bag.In the case of bleeding directly develops pericardial tamponade.
- acute thrombosis of the aneurysm.
above complications, if not to provide timely medical care can be fatal for patients with a diagnosis of "aortic aneurysm of the heart."Treatment of this disease physician selects, based on the general condition of the patient and the severity of the pathology.
Preventive measures
When it comes to the prevention of such a serious illness, all the recommendations on healthy lifestyle and refusal of bad habits must be considered first.As already mentioned, for a long time may occur in a latent form of aortic aneurysm heart.Symptoms in this case does not occur, the patient is unaware of the presence of such pathology.That is why if a person is at risk (smoking, high blood pressure, family history, there are cases of aortic dissection), should regularly undergo a full diagnostic examination.For this purpose usually use ultrasound, aortography with a contrast agent and MR.Timely detection of the disease can save a life.
Conclusion This article provides information on "Aortic aneurysm of the heart: causes, symptoms and treatment."Do not be afraid of this disease, as timely diagnosis and competent treatment in the early stages allow almost forget about the issue.
