Aneurysm, << AN yuh rihz uhm, >> is a balloonlike bulge that forms in a weakened area of the wall of an artery or vein. The most dangerous aneurysms are those that form in arteries, especially the arteries of the brain and the aorta, the main artery leading from the heart. Most aneurysms result from atherosclerosis, a disease caused by cholesterol build-up in artery walls. Other causes of aneurysms include genetic disorders or other defects present at birth.
The symptoms of an aneurysm vary with its location and size. There may be no symptoms, or pain may develop at the site of the aneurysm. Shortness of breath occurs if the aneurysm interferes with the heart’s pumping ability. Some aneurysms press on nearby structures, producing a cough, hoarseness, or difficulty in swallowing. An aneurysm may worsen without the patient knowing and then suddenly rupture, causing a coma, paralysis, or death. Many strokes result from the rupture of an aneurysm in an artery of the brain (see Stroke).
Physicians can detect aneurysms with X rays and, in many cases, can repair them surgically. Surgeons remove the diseased portion of the blood vessel. If it is a minor vessel, they tie off the loose ends. In a major artery or vein, they replace the diseased portion with a plastic tube, a fabric patch, or a piece of another blood vessel.
