Aorta is the main artery of a human. Its pathological dilation can cause immediate death in case of sudden rupture. An aneurysm is above mentioned dilated area of the vessel that can burst like an inflated balloon. The peculiarity of this cardiovascular disease is its asymptomatic course and extreme danger in case of rupture. At the same time, the operation itself for the treatment of a thoracic aortic aneurysm is also extremely difficult, because it is open-heart surgery.
Cardiology centers in Israel host the best heart surgeons with world recognition, the most advanced diagnostic and cardiac surgical equipment, including robotic ones, which allows to treat aortic aneurysm in a minimally invasive way with a minimum period of postoperative rehabilitation.
Risk factors
Statistically, a thoracic aortic aneurysm is more common in men. Cardiologists attribute this to a more frequent addiction to smoking in comparison with women who also suffer from this disease, especially after the age of 60 years old. Other risk factors for developing a thoracic aortic aneurysm include:
- atherosclerosis;
- hypertension;
- aortic injuries;
- dyslipidemia and high cholesterol;
- obesity;
- arthritis.
Hereditary link is proven clinically. If there are cases of aneurysm in the family, it is recommended to undergo a regular preventive examination, especially after the age of 60 years old, since it is almost impossible to detect the symptoms of this dangerous disease on your own.
Symptoms of an aortic aneurysm
The course of the disease in most cases is asymptomatic, and any manifestations are only indirect, since they can indicate any problem in the cardiovascular system.
- Pain in the chest, back, neck and head.
- Low blood pressure with dizziness up to fainting.
- Tachycardia, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing.
- Dry cough and hoarse voice.
- Sensation of unusual pulsation in the heart area.
- Difficulty swallowing.
Rupture of a thoracic aortic aneurysm leads to severe unbearable pain in the chest and abdominal cavity. It is necessary to act immediately in such a situation, as without timely medical care, this is will end with death.
Diagnostics
- Computer and magnetic resonance imaging (CT and MRI).
- Ultrasound examination of the heart and arteries (ultrasound);
- Chest X-ray;
- Aortography;
- Echocardiography;
- Pleural endoscopy (thoracoscopy).
Treatment of aortic aneurysm in Israel
There are no completely non-invasive methods of treating this disease. If the size of the thoracic aortic aneurysm is up to 5 cm wide, the patient is regularly monitored by a cardiologist to control the dilation, in other cases, surgical intervention is required to restore the normal size of the aorta.
Since the mid XX century, operations for the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysm are performed with the open cavity approach, meaning under general anesthesia with an opening of the sternum. The operation involves complete prosthetics of the dilated vessel with a synthetic prosthesis. Despite the relatively long rehabilitation period, this technique is still used all over the world, including in Israeli clinics, since the effectiveness of such treatment is high, and the duration of normal functioning of the prosthetic aorta is estimated for decades.
Israeli cardiology centers are also actively implementing the most innovative cardiac surgery techniques. One of these modern methods of treating an aortic aneurysm is stenting through a catheter inserted into an artery in the leg. Such an operation is considered minimally invasive, is performed under local or regional anesthesia and does not require long-term rehabilitation.
The highest level of qualification of Israeli heart surgeons combined with advanced treatment methods have made Israel a global center of medical tourism for patients with cardiovascular diseases from all over the world.