Aortic aneurysm: Difference between revisions
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Aortic aneurysms are problematic because they can rupture, which kills most of affected people within minutes or hours, and because they can compress other structures. These aneurysms typically grow slowly, but the risk of rupture and compression increase with the size. | Aortic aneurysms are problematic because they can rupture, which kills most of affected people within minutes or hours, and because they can compress other structures. These aneurysms typically grow slowly, but the risk of rupture and compression increase with the size. | ||
==Pathology== | |||
<noinclude>[[Category:Vascular surgery]] | Degeneration of elastic and collagen fibres, as well as [[atherosclerosis]], causes the formation of the aneurysm. Degeneration occurs due to mechanical stress due to [[hypertension]] and due to activation of proteases like [[collagenase]], [[elastase]], [[matrix metalloproteinase]], and [[plasmin]].<noinclude>[[Category:Vascular surgery]] | ||
</noinclude> | </noinclude> | ||
Revision as of 11:38, 16 November 2023
Aortic aneurysms are diseases of elderly with risk factors for atherosclerosis, like smoking, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia.
We distinguish two types of aortic aneurysms depending on the affected part of the aorta, thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). 90% of cases are abdominal. An aortic aneurysm is defined as a dilation > 50% of the normal diameter, or > 3 cm.
Aortic aneurysms are problematic because they can rupture, which kills most of affected people within minutes or hours, and because they can compress other structures. These aneurysms typically grow slowly, but the risk of rupture and compression increase with the size.
Pathology
Degeneration of elastic and collagen fibres, as well as atherosclerosis, causes the formation of the aneurysm. Degeneration occurs due to mechanical stress due to hypertension and due to activation of proteases like collagenase, elastase, matrix metalloproteinase, and plasmin.