Your aorta is a large artery that carries the blood from your heart to the rest of your body. When part of the wall of the aorta weakens and bulges outward, it has developed an aortic aneurysm.

Aortic aneurysms increase your risk for aortic dissection, a life-threatening condition in which the aorta bursts, causing heavy internal bleeding. If you have a large aortic aneurysm, early treatment is vital.

Risk Factors

You may be at a higher risk for an aortic aneurysm if you are a man over age 65 who has a family history of the condition or who has smoked for many years. If you are at high risk, your physician may recommend a screening for aortic aneurysm. A simple computed tomography (CT) scan can identify the condition early.

Symptoms

Aortic aneurysms grow slowly. You may not experience any symptoms of an aneurysm. Pain in your back or chest may mean that the aneurysm is close to rupturing, causing aortic dissection.

At the University of Miami Health System, experienced vascular surgeons offer minimally invasive repairs of aortic aneurysms using the latest technology. Early treatment and repair could potentially save your life.

Treatments

Smoking Cessation
If you have a small aneurysm, stopping smoking may slow its growth.

Physical Activity
Walking and moving frequently helps the blood flow back up to your heart from your legs. It may also help you lose weight, relieving pressure on your legs. You should also avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time.

Compression Stockings
Compression stockings are special socks that help prevent blood from pooling in your legs. You may need to wear them most of the day, as prescribed by your doctor.

Anticoagulation Therapy
Blood thinning medications can help prevent blood clots from forming in your legs.

Antibiotics
If you have a small aneurysm, stopping smoking may slow its growth.

Skin Care
You will need to keep your skin clean and moisturized to prevent problems with leg ulcers.

Sclerotherapy
During sclerotherapy, your doctor injects a special medication into your leg veins to close off veins. Once veins are closed off, blood can no longer pool in them, relieving some symptoms.

Laser Angioplasty
Laser angioplasty is a minimally invasive treatment that uses just one incision. Your vascular surgeon will insert a laser optic fiber into the vein and use the heat from the laser to close the vein off. You should be able to return to normal activities the day after laser angioplasty.

Stab Phlebectomy
For this procedure, your vascular surgeon will make small incisions, less than half a centimeter, around damaged veins. They will use the incisions to remove the damaged veins. You should be able to return to your normal activities the day after your stab phlebectomy.

Tests

Physical Exam
Your doctor will examine your legs for signs of chronic venous insufficiency.

Vascular Ultrasound
In this test, an ultrasound wand uses sound waves to create an image of the blood flowing through your legs so your doctor can better understand your circulation.

Why Choose UHealth?

Advanced, hard-to-find procedures. Our doctors are committed to caring for every patient. That’s why they offer the latest treatments, including limb salvage, endovascular grafting and thoracic outlet decompression, to improve your blood flow.

All the care you need, from one physician. Our vascular surgeons perform a wide range of procedures so you can have the same physician for any vascular care you need as your condition changes. Whether you need a stent replaced or a vein grafted, you can always turn to the doctor you trust.

Experienced doctors, reliable results. UHealth vascular surgeons perform hundreds of stent placements, angiograms and aneurysm repairs  every year. You can rely on their experience to help you avoid complications and have a positive outcome.