Treatment of an aortic aneurysm mainly depends on its size. Three main classes were identified:
- small – 3-4.4 cm in diameter;
- The average is 4.5-5.4 cm;
- large – from 5.5 cm.
The main symptoms — chest pain, difficulty breathing, and coughing—often do not appear until a grade three aneurysm develops.
Mostly large aneurysms are ruptured. At this stage of the disease, surgical intervention with the installation of a graft is recommended. Traditionally, patients undergo open surgery – a prosthesis is placed in the aorta through an incision in the abdomen or thoracotomy (chest dissection).
Diagnosis of aortic aneurysm
AA can be detected completely by accident during a regular visit to the doctor or undergoing fluorography. A set of imaging tests is performed to confirm the diagnosis.: Ultrasound of the abdominal and thoracic cavity, CT and MRI.
Treatment of aortic aneurysm abroad
In clinics in Israel, Germany, Singapore, Korea, China and India, endovascular surgery is used for treatment. This minimally invasive technique is performed using two small incisions in the groin and intraoperative X-ray imaging. The catheter is inserted through the holes into the artery and guided to the site. When the tube reaches the problem area, the spiral unfolds, filling the bulge of the wall.
The patient is discharged 2-3 days after surgery, and after a few weeks he can return to normal activity. The risk of complications is lower than with open surgery. About 98% of patients recover completely.
Clinical trials of aneurysm treatment methods
Clinical trials of stem cell treatment of aortic aneurysms are underway in hospitals in Germany and Israel. This experimental method may be suitable for patients who are contraindicated in surgery or who have had an unsuccessful operation.
It is known that an aneurysm develops due to the rapid degradation of some aortic tissues. Chronic inflammation increases the destruction of the vessel, so it is important to reduce the inflammatory process. Mesenchymal stem cells, which can develop into any type of tissue, have anti-inflammatory properties. They integrate well into the damaged vessel wall and stop the development of an aneurysm. Cell therapy is recommended for patients not only with AA, but also after a stroke or myocardial infarction.
South Korea
China
India
