heart and blood vessel disorders
Aneurysms of Arteries in the Arms, Legs, and Heart
Treatment
Surgery or stent-graft repair Doctors repair aneurysms in the lower part of the body when the aneurysm is twice the size of the normal blood vessel or when the person with a known aneurysm but no previous symptoms develops new symptoms. Aneurysms in the arms are usually repaired right away even if the person has no symptoms because there is a higher chance that a blood clot will form in these blood vessels. For popliteal aneurysms larger than 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) in diameter, open surgery or placement of a stent-graft within the aneurysm is usually done. A stent-graft is a hollow tube of synthetic material with a springy mesh in its wall. The mesh wall, like a collapsible straw, allows the stent to be compressed small enough to be inserted into an artery over a long thin wire. Doctors pass the stent through the artery to the aneurysm. Then the stent-graft is opened, forming a stable channel for blood flow. Stent-grafts can also be used for coronary artery aneurysms, although these sometimes require Percutaneous Coronary Intervention . Femoral and carotid aneurysms can also be surgically repaired. Infected aneurysms typically require treatment with antibiotics or antifungal medications and may require open surgery or stent-graft repair, depending on where the aneurysm is located, how big it is, and how much it has been damaged by the infection. 