Some worry about the risk of aortic artery surgery, as some people suffer from aortic artery dilation, which is a medical condition that affects part of the aortic artery wall. In it, part of the artery wall dilates, and enlarges, becoming weak and swollen like a balloon.
Since the aortic artery is the largest blood vessel in the body, and is responsible for transporting blood from the heart and nourishing the head, abdomen, arms, pelvis, and legs, therefore, aortic dissection or dilation poses a threat to the patient’s life.
It is important to differentiate between aortic artery dilation and other conditions that affect the same artery, such as aortic dissection (which is a tear in the inner layer of the artery wall), aortic artery narrowing (resulting from atherosclerosis), and obstruction in the aortic artery due to blood clotting. Each case has its own aortic artery symptoms and different methods of diagnosis and treatment, although they all require careful medical follow-up.
Urgent intervention and careful follow-up with a skilled doctor are required to evaluate the condition and determine the means of treatment that may reach aortic artery surgery in some cases.
What is the Aortic Artery?
The aortic artery, or what is known as the aorta, is the largest artery in the human body, and it comes directly out of the heart to distribute oxygen-rich blood to all parts of the body. It starts from the left ventricle of the heart, then branches into several arteries that nourish vital organs such as the brain, liver, kidneys, and limbs. This artery is considered a basic element in maintaining the efficiency of blood circulation and the continuation of life.
Where is the Aorta Located?
The aorta or aortic artery is the main artery in the body, responsible for transporting oxygen-rich blood from the heart to all parts of the body.
The aorta is divided into three main parts, as follows:
- Ascending Aorta: Starts from the left ventricle of the heart and goes upwards.
- Aortic Arch: Where the aortic artery bends to form an arch behind the heart and then goes downwards.
- Descending Aorta: The aortic artery continues descending through the chest and abdomen cavities.
What is the Risk of Aortic Artery Surgery?
Aortic artery surgery is one of the major surgical operations. Despite the development and use of modern techniques during surgery and anesthesia, it may carry some potential risks, which are as follows:
- Bleeding during or after surgery.
- Formation of blood clots.
- Risk of infection.
- Difficulty in wound healing.
- Stroke.
- Re-surgical intervention.
The risk of aortic artery surgery can be reduced by:
- Careful selection of the type of surgery suitable for the patient’s condition.
- Good planning before performing the surgery.
- Using all methods of prevention from aortic artery operation complications such as using antibiotics and clot inhibitors.
- Intensive care after surgery to diagnose and treat any complications early.
Aortic Artery Dilation
Abdominal aortic artery dilation may occur at any position. According to the position and diameter of the dilated artery, Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam can evaluate the condition and determine the appropriate treatment methods, as the artery can dilate in the chest area.
It is called thoracic aortic artery dilation. In this case, part of the artery in the chest area dilates or the root of the main aorta artery connected to the heart dilates.
It is possible for the abdominal aortic artery to dilate, which is the most common type. In this case, part of the aorta that passes in the abdomen area dilates.
Causes of Aortic Artery Dilation
Infection with aortic artery dilation may occur suddenly and without a known cause, but there are some factors believed to increase the risk of infection with aortic artery dilation, including:
- High Blood Pressure: Where high pressure can in turn affect the aortic artery walls, as well as blood vessels, and press on them and cause weakness and dilation in the aortic artery.
- Smoking: It is one of the factors believed to directly affect the body’s arteries, and cause a rise in blood pressure resulting finally in artery dilation and weakness.
- You may also be interested in reading: Risk of smoking after open-heart surgery.
- Accumulation of fats and atherosclerosis: As the rise in the percentage of cholesterol and harmful fats causes the accumulation of fats on the blood vessel walls from the inside, causing narrowing of their diameter and high blood pressure, all of which would cause dilation of vessels and arteries.
- Some genetic factors: May increase the risk of infection with aortic artery dilation, especially if there is a genetic history of Marfan syndrome, which is a rare condition that affects connective tissues and causes aortic artery dilation.
- Vasculitis: Inflammation may occur in the aortic artery wall, and the person may be exposed to a bacterial or fungal infection that causes that inflammation and dilation.
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What are the Causes of Aortic Artery Pulse in the Abdomen?
Before getting to know aortic artery surgery, we will get to know the reason for many people feeling a pulse in the aortic artery in the abdomen. There are common non-pathological reasons and other pathological reasons. The non-pathological causes of aortic artery pulse in the abdomen include the following:
- Pregnancy: As a result of the increase in the amount of blood in the body, making the aortic artery pulse in the abdomen clear to the point of feeling it.
- During lying down with knees raised: Because of blood flow through the abdominal aortic artery, especially in people with low weight and the absence of much fat in the abdomen area.
- After eating: Where the heart pumps blood in larger quantities to the stomach and intestines to help digest food and absorb nutrients, making the aortic artery pulse clear and can be felt.
While pathological cases for feeling a pulse in the abdomen include result of abdominal aortic artery dilation, and that occurs because of weakness of the aorta artery wall in the abdomen area, for the following pathological reasons:
- Atherosclerosis, as a result of accumulation of fats on the blood vessel lining.
- High blood pressure, leading to damaging the aortic artery walls and weakening it.
- Infection with blood vessel diseases.
- Infection with a bacterial or fungal infection in the aortic artery.
- Exposure to physical injury or accident.
Aortic Artery Narrowing Symptoms
Symptoms may be silent for a long period, and the patient does not feel them except when they worsen. They start with a complaint of pains in the chest, abdomen, or back area, or that the patient begins to complain of disturbances in blood circulation and the heart or a clot in the aorta artery or in one of the limbs. If the patient does not pay attention to these symptoms and commits to follow-up and treatment with an experienced doctor, their condition may develop, and a rupture in the aortic artery wall or tearing occurs and the appearance of the most important aortic artery rupture symptoms, which are often the same as aortic dissection symptoms, which requires immediate and urgent intervention to perform a surgical operation and try to save the patient’s life.
Knowing that the dilation in the aortic artery wall does not occur suddenly, but it develops gradually by the effect of some previously mentioned factors, the most famous of which is high blood pressure. Aortic artery dilation symptoms can be mentioned in points as follows:
- The patient may complain of an increase in heart rate.
- Sudden pain in the abdomen or back area, and of course it differs according to the position of dilation, and this pain may spread to include the pelvis, buttocks, and legs.
- The patient may complain of feeling a pulse in the abdomen area.
- In case of a rupture in the aorta aortic artery wall or what is called aortic dissection or aortic tearing, the patient suffers suddenly from severe pain in the abdomen that requires going to the hospital immediately.
Diagnosis of Aortic Artery Dilation Cases
In the first stages, the disease may be discovered by chance during performing ultrasound during routine examinations, so an enlargement in the aortic artery is noticed. Then the patient is referred to a doctor specialized in open-heart surgery, who evaluates the condition by contrast CT scan and other examinations, to measure the diameter of the dilated artery, and the area of the extended region of the artery and its effect.
As for if the patient’s condition is somewhat advanced, the symptoms they suffer from will force them to go to the doctor, and with performing examinations, the situation of the case will be evaluated, and the position and size of dilation in the aortic artery will be determined, and accordingly the doctor determines the appropriate treatment plan to repair that dilation according to the patient’s age and health status.
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Treatment of Aortic Artery Dilation
Dr. Mohamed Ali El-Ghannam, Professor of Heart and Chest Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, emphasizes that treatment of aortic artery dilation depends on the position of dilation and its degree, and evaluating the condition. Not all cases undergo aortic artery surgery.
Rather, the treating doctor may be satisfied with follow-up without surgery for some cases that show simple dilation in the aorta artery, so the speed of growth of this dilation can be monitored through ultrasound imaging and CT scan regularly.
But there are other cases that require inevitable surgical intervention and performing an operation to remove the aortic artery dilation, and that is often when the diameter of the dilated part increases more than 5 to 5.5 centimeters. This portends its weakness and the probability of its rupture at any time, which requires medical intervention to treat the patient using the following means:
Open Surgery and Aortic Artery Surgery:
Aorta artery repair surgery involves removing the damaged or weak part of the artery completely, and replacing it with an artificial tube. This is done by performing surgery in the chest and abdomen to reach the position of dilation, and then excise the infected part, and place the artificial tube as an alternative. This operation takes from 3 to 5 hours, and requires staying in the hospital for 5 to 10 days after it.
The patient needs approximately 6 weeks to recover after it and return to practicing daily works again. Aortic artery surgery is considered one of the major operations that need special care and diligent follow-up with the treating doctor.
Read also for more information: Cost of aortic artery operation.
Catheter and Stent:
Catheterization is one of the most common means to treat dilation and is preferred by a large number of patients, as it is a minimal invasion in which the doctor uses a thin catheter to insert a stent in the infected part. Then the catheter is withdrawn and the stent is fixed, which expands and supports the artery wall in that infected position. It is a much simpler operation than open surgery, and may replace open surgical intervention in some moderate cases. But this makes some patients ask: Is heart stent operation dangerous?
In this technique, the thin tube is inserted through the blood artery extending in the leg, reaching the position of dilation.
Treatment of Thoracic Aortic Artery Dilation
Before making the decision of aortic artery surgery, there are multiple stages for treating thoracic aorta artery dilation. Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam, Consultant of Open-Heart Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgical Intervention, decides the treatment method depending on these factors:
- Size of dilation.
- Location of dilation.
- Speed of growth and development of dilation.
- Severity of symptoms.
- General health status of the patient.
The main treatment options for thoracic aortic artery dilation with Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam, the best doctor specialized in heart surgery in Egypt, include the following:
Periodic Follow-up and Continuous Examination:
In cases of small dilation and the location is not sensitive and does not grow quickly, periodic follow-up with the doctor with imaging examinations such as CT scan or MRI is done.
Surgical Intervention to Treat Thoracic Aortic Artery Dilation:
Aortic artery surgery options include the following:
- Traditional Surgery: The doctor replaces the damaged part of the artery with an artificial tube through a major surgical operation in which the chest is opened to reach the thoracic aortic artery and repair the problem.
- Endoscopic Surgery: It is one of the minimally invasive surgical intervention procedures in which small surgical instruments and a camera are inserted through small incisions in the body to repair the dilation.
- Arterial Catheterization and Stent Placement: The doctor uses a catheter to insert the stent in the place of dilation to strengthen the weak artery.
How Can the Risk of Aortic Artery Surgery Be Limited?
The risks of aortic artery surgeries can be reduced through early and accurate diagnosis of the condition, and choosing the appropriate timing for intervention before the occurrence of serious complications such as rupture. Also, evaluation of the patient’s general health status plays an important role, especially regarding controlling blood pressure, diabetes, and heart functions. Choosing a equipped medical center and a specialized surgical team contributes to significantly reducing risk percentages, along with commitment to medical instructions before and after the operation.
What are the Complications of Abdominal Aortic Artery Surgery?
Complications of abdominal aortic artery surgery may include some potential problems such as bleeding, infection, or formation of blood clots, in addition to the possibility of kidney functions or digestive system being affected. In rare cases, a blood leak may occur around the stent or failure in the wound healing properly. The severity of these complications depends on the patient’s health status and the type of procedure used, whether it was open surgery or catheter intervention.
Post-Aortic Artery Operation
Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam, Consultant of Heart and Chest Surgery, emphasizes the importance of follow-up and commitment to the doctor’s instructions after performing aortic artery surgery operation, and the importance of following the appropriate diet for heart and blood vessel surgery patients in general, and avoiding smoking and commitment to treatment so that their condition does not worsen.
As some patients may need open aortic artery surgery in conjunction with installing a catheter or stent in order to reach the highest degrees of repair for the aortic artery. You can read more instructions about post-aortic artery operation.
Is Aorta Artery Operation Dangerous?
Open-heart surgery for the purpose of repairing thoracic or abdominal aortic artery dilation is one of the major operations about which many patients ask: Is aorta artery operation dangerous? It is a complex surgery that many patients fear, but with scientific progress, it has become available currently to perform this type of operation with the highest levels of care and accuracy with a medical team at a high level of experience and efficiency and in specialized centers.
What is the Success Rate of Abdominal Aortic Artery Operation?
With the progress of surgical techniques, the success rate of abdominal aortic artery surgery has increased significantly. The following factors affect the success rate of aortic artery operation:
- Patient’s health status and presence of other diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
- Type of surgery.
- Experience and skill of the surgeon.
- Location of dilation and its size; this is what determines how long the aortic artery stent operation takes.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Risk of Aortic Artery Surgery
What is the success rate of aorta artery operation?
The success rate of aorta artery operations is high currently, especially with the great medical progress, as it exceeds in many cases 90%, and may be higher in planned non-emergency procedures. The percentage differs according to the type of operation (open or by catheter), the size of the problem, and the extent of stability of the case before intervention. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the more the chances of success increase and results improve.
Is abdominal aortic artery dilation operation dangerous?
The operation to treat abdominal aortic artery dilation is considered a necessary procedure in some cases to prevent the occurrence of a rupture that may threaten life. Although the operation carries some risks like any surgical intervention, its danger decreases significantly when performed in a planned way before the occurrence of complications. As for in emergency cases, such as the occurrence of a rupture, the risk is higher and requires rapid intervention.
Why was the aortic artery called by this name?
The naming of the aortic artery goes back to a Greek origin, where the word “Aorta” means the main or largest artery. It was called by this name due to its large size and its pivotal role in transporting blood from the heart to the rest of the body parts, making it the most important artery in the circulatory system.
Can the complications of aortic artery operation be limited?
Yes, the probability of complications can be reduced through commitment to a careful treatment plan including regular follow-up after the operation, and taking prescribed medications such as blood thinners when needed, with controlling risk factors like high blood pressure and smoking. It is also recommended to follow a healthy lifestyle including balanced nutrition and appropriate physical activity, which helps improve recovery and reduce chances of occurrence of any future problems.
Conclusion about Aortic Artery Problems
In general, the success rate of abdominal aortic artery surgery has exceeded more than 90%, and early diagnosis contributes to the rise in the success rate of the surgery.
Despite the risk percentage in the aortic artery surgery operation, some cases suffer from severe dilation in the aorta artery that necessitates performing the operation. We advise consulting Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam for accurate diagnosis and treating artery dilation as soon as possible, because aortic dissection or dilation to a severe degree exposes the patient’s life to the risk of rupture and its explosion at any moment.
To book an appointment with Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam, Consultant of Open-Heart Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgical Intervention, you can call the clinic number 01211979117 or through visiting the official website of the doctor info@mohamedelghanam.com to book an appointment, or visiting one of the doctor’s clinics which include:
- Nasr City Clinic.
- Heliopolis Clinic.
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