Causes And Types Of Aortic Aneurysms

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

The aorta also passes through the chest, and an aneurysm in this area is called a thoracic aortic aneurysm. They are not as common as aortic aneurysms found in the abdomen. This is fortunate, because if a thoracic aneurysm bursts, the patient often dies instantly. The mortality rate is as high as eighty percent. This is the type of aneurysm that afflicts patients with Marfan syndrome or another connective tissue disease. Another cause of thoracic aneurysms is the hardening of the arteries. As with an abdominal aneurysm, smoking is a risk factor, as are hypertension and a family history of aneurysms. The aneurysm can be found in the ascending or the descending aorta. Aneurysms in the ascending aorta are believed to be more dangerous than those in the descending aorta, and they are surgically treated when they are at a smaller size.