Aneurysm

NJ Heart & Vascular Care

Kintur A. Sanghvi, MD, FACC, FSCAI

Board Certified Cardiologist & Cardiovascular Physician located in Princeton, NJ & Hamilton Square, NJ

A bulge in the wall of an artery is known as an aneurysm and it puts you at risk of serious complications, including stroke. Small aneurysms rarely cause problems, but larger aneurysms located in your aorta or brain can lead to fatal complications. At NJ Heart & Vascular Care in Princeton and Hamilton, New Jersey, cardiac specialist Kintur Sanghvi, MD, FACC, FSCAI, uses his vast experience to quickly detect and treat aneurysms. To learn about your risk of an aneurysm and potential treatments, call the office to schedule an appointment or book online today.

Aneurysm Q & A

What is an aneurysm?

An aneurysm is when an area of an arterial wall fills with blood and bulges out. Most aneurysms occur in the aorta. This large artery runs from your heart through the center of your chest and abdomen.

There are two types of aortic aneurysms:

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)

This is the most common form of an aneurysm and is the 13th leading cause of death in the United States. An AAA occurs in the lower part of the aorta. If it ruptures, it can cause life-threatening bleeding.

Thoracic aneurysms

Thoracic aneurysms develop in the upper part of the aorta, where it passes through the chest. Large thoracic aneurysms are at risk of rupture, but small ones may never cause complications.

Other types of aneurysms include:

Cerebral aneurysm in the brain
Popliteal artery aneurysm behind the knee
Splenic artery aneurysm in the spleen
Mesenteric artery aneurysm in the intestine

Peripheral aneurysms can sometimes develop in arteries in the pelvis, thighs, and legs.

What increases my risk for an aneurysm?

While an aneurysm may develop due to a rare infection or trauma, most are due to:

Family history
High blood pressure
Blood vessel disease
Smoking

Hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, that occurs due to hyperlipidemia compromises blood flow to the aorta and puts you at risk. Men are more likely to develop aneurysms, especially AAAs, compared to women.

NJ Heart & Vascular Care is equipped with comprehensive screening and diagnostic tools like angiograms, ultrasound, and CT scanners. Dr. Sanghvi may recommend aneurysm screening if you have major risk factors.

How are aneurysms treated?

Treatment for your aneurysm depends on its location, size, and severity of your symptoms. A small, unruptured AAA may need monitoring and preventive measures and medications.

Surgery is usually recommended on large, rapidly growing aortic aneurysms, such as those that measure 1.9-2.2 inches. If your aneurysm causes chronic pain, regardless of size, surgery may also be warranted. Treatment of ruptured aortic aneurysms requires immediate surgery.

Surgical options include:

PEVAR

Dr. Sanghvi is proficient in the minimally invasive complete percutaneous endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (PEVAR). This procedure involves inserting a stent, or small tube, through a blood vessel in the groin.

Large-bore arterial access

He’s also experienced in performing and managing large-bore arterial accesses to repair aneurysms. These types of surgical sites are harder to manage, and you want a skilled provider like Dr. Sanghvi to perform the procedure to avoid complications.

Open surgery

Dr. Sanghvi can also perform more extensive open chest aneurysm repair if needed.

If you’re concerned about aneurysms, call NJ Heart & Vascular Care for an appointment or book online today.