Aortic Aneurysm By Marcus A. Todd

Who Is At Risk Students Parents Presidents Millionaires Professionals Basketball Player Congressmen Baseball Players Racecar Drivers Teachers Students Parents Presidents Millionaires Professionals

Aorta Largest artery in the body Responsible for pumping blood out of the heart Projects upward from the heart Then arches down towards the abdomen

Aneurysm of the Aorta A Widening, Bulge or Ballooning. Usually a weak spot Expands to at least 1.5 times of normal size Normal size aprox 1 inch

Types of Aneurysm

But I Felt Fine Characterized by degeneration of cells Tissue is weak Lacks Elasticity No pain yet

Why? What’s Wrong First Indication is localized enlargement When reaches size of half inch bigger then complete aorta, referred to as an aneurysm Aortic tissue might tear, even if not enlarged Aorta has two layers Inner layer can tear and leak between outer layer Separation of layers called Dissection

Dissection

Surgery Dissection Surgical repair Uses leg graft Or graft from other Sources

How Do You Know Discovered in different ways Sometimes pressure or pain Routine physical Chest X-ray Often no warning symptoms

Bicuspid Aortic Valve??? No Can’t be They exist 1 out of every 200 aneurysm has it Puts you at risk for aneurysm or dissection

OK!! I Have IT, What do I Do. Post surgery MRI or CT scan benchmark Annual MRI or CT scan check-up Ongoing blood pressure optimization PT/INR monitoring if on the anticoagulant Coumadin Lifestyle recommendations

Medications Thrombolytics Contraindicated Heparin Indicated Calcium Channel Indicated Bata Blockers Indicated

What If That Does Not Work Surgery my Friend High risk of death Some Times elective Most times emergency Risky Procedures Lots of Pain

Thoracic Aortic Injury (Trauma) Rollover of the vehicle occurs A fatality is involved A person is ejected from the vehicle The vehicle sustains a dent of more than 12 inches A prolonged period of time was required to extricate the victim from the vehicle

So What Can We As Nurses Do? Pt teaching Life style changes, Diet, activities, ect. Pain management Meds, breathing techniques, positions, ect Observation Does your Pt look like they hurt?, Rubbing their chest? Saying it is only indigestion?

More To Do Assessments Direction to other help All V/S, Demeanor, posture, Pain level Direction to other help If Pt is not satisfied with info supplied give other avenues for help Therapeutic communication Look, listen, touch, empathetic

Need More Info?? Thoracic Aortic Surgery Program Cedars-Sinai Medical Center 8700 Beverly Blvd., Suite 6215 Los Angeles, CA 90048 Phone: 1-800-CEDARS-1 (233-2771) Fax: (310) 423-0127 http://www.csmc.edu/2405.html#aortic