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Aneurysms of Arteries in the Arms, Legs, and Heart

By

Koon K. Teo

, MBBCh, PhD, McMaster University

Reviewed/Revised Jul 2023
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An aneurysm is a bulge (dilation) in the wall of an artery.

Aneurysms may occur in any artery. Aneurysms are most common in the aorta Overview of Aortic Aneurysms and Aortic Dissection The aorta, which is about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) in diameter, is the largest artery of the body. It receives oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle of the heart and distributes it to all... read more , which is the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the body. The aorta is located in the torso. Aneurysms may also occur in arteries outside the torso, including those in the

Aneurysms of the carotid arteries are rare. Older people are more likely to have aneurysms than are younger people.

Blood Vessels
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Causes

Many aneurysms result from

Other aneurysms result from

  • Injuries caused by stab or gunshot wounds

  • Bacterial or fungal infections in the wall of the artery that develop after use of illicit intravenous drugs such as heroin

Symptoms

Most aneurysms of the popliteal and femoral arteries do not cause symptoms and are discovered when imaging studies are done for other reasons. However, blood clots can form within the aneurysm. If these blood clots break loose, they are called emboli. Emboli can move with the blood flow until they block an artery. If they block an artery in the lower leg or foot Occlusive Peripheral Arterial Disease Occlusive peripheral arterial disease is blockage or narrowing of an artery in the legs (or rarely the arms), usually due to atherosclerosis and resulting in decreased blood flow. Symptoms depend... read more Occlusive Peripheral Arterial Disease , the blockage causes sudden onset of severe pain, numbness, and coolness of the foot, which may also appear pale.

Unlike aneurysms in the aorta or cerebral arteries, aneurysms in the popliteal, femoral, coronary, and carotid arteries rarely rupture.

When aneurysms are infected, people may have fever, pain, and weight loss.

Diagnosis

  • Imaging

Doctors may diagnose aneurysms in the legs or arms by feeling a pulsating mass in the affected artery. Ultrasonography or computed tomography (CT) can confirm the diagnosis.

Infected aneurysms usually have distinctive features on imaging. Blood tests are done to look for increased numbers of white blood cells and increased levels of inflammatory proteins, and cultures are done to identify the organism infecting the aneurysm.

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 coronary artery bypass surgery Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Coronary artery disease is a condition in which the blood supply to the heart muscle is partially or completely blocked. The heart muscle needs a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood. The coronary... read more 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.

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