Aneurysm

An aneurysm is an abnormal swelling in the wall of a vessel - usually an artery. This can develop as a result of a weakness in the wall, which can occur as a complication of atherosclerosis, because of genetic predisposition, because of damage (which can produce an aneurysm of the wall of the left ventricle following myocardial infarction, for example) or, in the developing world, in the aorta as a complication of syphilis. Abdominal aortic aneurysms may be noticed as a pulsatile swelling, and be repaired, but often they only present when they leak or rupture, which requires emergency treatment.

Dissecting aneurysms arise as a result of weakness in the wall of the aorta in the chest. Blood enters through a defect, and tracks down between the muscle layers of the aorta, causing severe pain and cutting off the blood supply to other organs. Surgery may help.

Berry aneurysms are small weaknesses of the wall of arteries in the brain. They may leak or rupture, causing sub-arachnoid haemorrhage (see the brain).
 
 
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