Expansion of the aorta is one of the most dangerous in terms of pathology predictions. In another way, this phenomenon is called an aneurysm. Expansion of the aorta is an extremely dangerous condition for the patient as it progresses, therefore, in this case, constant medical supervision is required. As a rule, with such pathologies, a certain expansion of the vessel is formed. It should be noted that not a single department is immune from the expansion of the aorta. However, it is the ascending one that is most at risk. It is worth familiarizing yourself in more detail with what an aortic dilatation is, how it is diagnosed, and what methods of therapy are used to treat this disease.
Departments of the aorta
The aorta is one of the two main vessels in the human body that connects the left ventricle and its atrium. On the inside of this vessel are three sinuses of valsalva. The aorta normally carries blood from the heart toall other organs in the body and human tissues. The aorta looks very similar to a tree, which has a trunk and small branches. The aorta is divided into several main sections:
- Ascending, moving from the aortic valve to the brachiocephalic trunk.
- The aortic arch is a not too long section of the main vessel, which is considered a key component of the entire circulatory system of the head and shoulder girdle. These vessels, which feed the head and shoulders, form a kind of arc connecting the ascending and descending sections of the main vessel.
- Descending or thoracic. In this section, the vessels are located in the direction from the subclavian artery on the left side to the diaphragm.
- Belly part. This area is located from the diaphragm to the place where the main vessel bifurcates, the role of which is played by the aorta.
General description of pathology
In itself, the expansion of the aorta of the heart is presented in the form of an increase in the diameter of the vessel by about one and a half times, in some cases more. With such a pathology, the walls of the dilated vessel lose their maximum elasticity, which negatively affects the rate of blood flow in the human body, as well as the state of blood pressure. All expansions of the aorta of the heart are usually attributed to different groups, which differ from each other in the area of localization, the main causes of the formation of pathology, as well as the structure of the walls of the aorta. For example, based on the localization of the expansion, the following types of aneurysms should be distinguished:
- Aortic root expansion.
- Aneurysm affecting the ascending vessel from the sinotubular ridge to the aortic arch.
- Expansion of the aortic arch.
Characteristic features of violation
During such a pathology, experts note a strong expansion of the vessel in the form of a spindle or sac. Aneurysmal expansion of the aorta can be formed absolutely on any part of this vessel. Since blood enters various organs inside the body precisely through the aorta, and this is facilitated by increased pressure, the pathology is considered very dangerous for human he alth. An irreversible violation is the expansion of the lumen of the main vessel.
Statistics show that about 38% of reported cases of patients are due to dilatation of the abdominal aorta, about 24% - to the ascending aorta, about 18% - to the aortic arch.
Main reasons for development
Diagnosis of this pathology should be carried out only by a cardiologist. After that, the specialist should prescribe treatments for aortic enlargement. As for the main reasons for the formation of this pathology, it is customary to single out several:
- Various transferred infectious and inflammatory processes.
- The formation of cholesterol plaques on the main vessel, which is commonly called atherosclerosis in medicine.
- Some kind of vascular injury during a surgical intervention on the cardiovascular system.
- Congenital connective tissue dysplasia.
- Birth defectvalves in children.
- Presence of hypertension.
- Congenital aneurysms in newborns.
- Various genetic pathologies related to the type of Marfan syndrome and others.
It is also worth noting that during pregnancy in the female body, the process of increased release in the blood into the vessel begins to form, which is also the cause of the development of such a pathology. In addition, expansion of the ascending aorta or other department may occur due to addiction to alcohol or nicotine.
Varieties of pathology
As already noted, all types of aneurysms differ from each other with respect to the localization zone. It is worth familiarizing yourself in more detail with those types that are most often diagnosed in patients.
Expansion of the abdominal aorta
This pathology is one of the most common. In the majority of reported cases, this type of expansion is considered to be the result of blunt trauma to the abdominal region, as well as a consequence of smoking. Mostly men who are over 75 years old suffer from this pathology. The danger of this aneurysm lies in the fact that it almost always ruptures instantly, and this happens almost painlessly. But if the gap is observed precisely in the abdominal zone, then the patient begins to feel a cutting pain, concentrated in the lumbar region and abdomen. If the rupture occurs imperceptibly, then there is a high probability that the patient will die due to internal hemorrhage.
During expansion of the abdominal vessela person may feel pain in the kidneys, ureters, pancreas, and also in the intestines. If the enlarged area passes the ureter, then this will provoke hydronephrosis. If the duodenum undergoes squeezing, then the patient will experience stagnation of food eaten in the intestines.
It is important to note that the main sign of such a pathology is considered to be a constant pulsation concentrated in the navel.
Arc expansion
The aortic arch is the area of the main vessel that is most likely to develop an aneurysm. As a rule, in this area, the blood flow sharply changes its direction. It is here that the pressure, velocity and turbulence of the blood flow change. As a result of all this, an expansion of the lumen of the aorta can develop. Basically, an aneurysm of the arch manifests itself in the form of shortness of breath and dry cough, dull soreness in the shoulder blades, hoarseness, and constant pulsation in the wrist area.
Descending region expansion
As a rule, in this case, the pathology has a fusiform or bag-shaped form. Both the abdominal and thoracic vessels suffer from this expansion. The main reason for the expansion of the descending aorta is considered to be a cholesterol plaque. This type of pathology is detected during x-rays of organs, as well as vessels located in the chest area. As a rule, such a pathology does not have any symptoms. Only occasionally can a patient experience a constant burning sensation.soreness in the upper abdomen.
Diagnostic Methods
In general, aortic dilatation does not have any significant symptoms or signs. Most often, this pathology is detected by chance during the diagnosis of any secondary diseases or during preventive procedures. If a specialist has a suspicion of an expansion of the main vessel in the human body, then he should prescribe the following diagnostic measures to the patient:
- X-ray. It should be noted that X-rays are applied relative to the department where there is a suspicion of vessel dilation.
- Echocardiography. This diagnostic method is mainly used when expanding the ascending aorta.
- MRI or CT of the main vessel of the abdominal or thoracic regions.
- Carrying out angiography to evaluate the work of the main vessels.
It is important to note that quite often aneurysms are disguised as other pathological processes, which can lead the specialist to go astray. For this reason, it is necessary to differentiate an aneurysm from the formation of tumors and other pathologies that occur in the lungs or other organs located in the abdominal cavity.
General clinical picture
If we consider the signs of expansion of the main vessel, then basically this pathology does not have any symptoms and signs. If pain appears, then it is mainly localized in the area of the aneurysm and manifests itself in the formripple.
First of all, the symptoms of different types of vasodilation are as follows:
- With the expansion of the abdominal aorta, heaviness appears in the abdominal region, constipation, vomiting, decreased bowel function, belching. During palpation, the specialist may feel a slight induration, which is pulsating.
- With the expansion of the ascending section, pain appears in the sternum area. In this case, the patient may also experience swelling in the upper torso, as well as on the face. Possible shortness of breath, dizziness and tachycardia.
- When the aortic arch expands, the patient develops a dry cough, bradycardia, salivation. If the aorta is compressed in the region of the bronchi and lungs, then pneumonia may develop.
Features of therapy
Methods of treatment of the expansion of the main vessel should be based on the specific form of aneurysm, its size and location. If there is a small expansion of the lumen of the vessel, then the patient can simply be observed in dynamics. In this case, a specialist for support can prescribe the following drugs:
- Antihypertensive drugs to lower blood pressure.
- Venotonics that can strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
- Drugs that lower blood cholesterol levels.
- Various vitamin complexes to normalize metabolic processes in the myocardium.
- Anticoagulants to prevent blood clots.
It is important to note that all medications should be prescribed onlytreating cardiologist. Particular attention should be paid to the fact that no folk prescriptions in the treatment of this pathology are invalid.
If the lumen of the main vessel in the abdominal region is more than 4 cm, and in the thoracic region its size is more than 6 cm, then the patient will need surgical intervention. In addition, surgery is prescribed in cases where the patient's lumen has increased in size by 0.5 cm in six months.
The principle of surgical intervention is based on the removal of a relaxed part of the vessel, or on its reduction. In some cases, a special prosthetic stent is placed. The operation can be organized both with an open method and with an endoscopic one.
Prevention of pathology
To never suffer from such an unpleasant disease, you must seriously monitor your he alth. In particular, from adolescence it is recommended to strengthen your blood vessels, for which you will have to give up the use of alcohol and tobacco. After the age of 45, people should regularly monitor their blood pressure. If any problems are observed, then you should seek help from a cardiac surgeon.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that at first glance, a harmless pathology actually carries an incredibly great danger to human life. The fact is that the expansion of the main vessel can provoke a sudden rupture of the aorta at any time, which can cause instant death. Therefore, it is necessary to take treatment seriously and adequately.this pathology. It should be remembered that any delay of the patient can cost him his life.
