1. Aortic Aneurysm By
Marcus A. Todd

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Types of Aneurysm

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

7. 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

8. Dissection

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

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Medications Thrombolytics Contraindicated Heparin Indicated
Calcium Channel Indicated
Bata Blockers Indicated

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

15. 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

16. 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?

17. 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

18. Need More Info?? Thoracic Aortic Surgery Program
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
8700 Beverly Blvd., Suite 6215
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: CEDARS-1 ( )
Fax: (310)