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CARDIAC HEALTH
Edward deTar, M.D., displays the synthetic graft used to treat
aortic aneurysm.
Aortic
Aneurysm
R
By Kim Anderson and Andrea Kalas-Nagel
SOMETIMES FEELING FINE CAN
be deadly. Although no one enjoys a
medical condition that leaves them
feeling worse and worse, even more
fatal are those that develop without
warning. Although we take comfort
when friends or family members
“die doing what they loved,” it’s
tragic when that means they didn’t
know they were at risk.
Cardiovascular disease, includ-
ing aortic aneurysms, is among
these silent killers. Unless they
are spotted during a routine
checkup or an examination for
another condition, they can eas-
ily go undiagnosed—and in
the case of aortic aneurysms,
ultimately rupture. Each year
approximately 15,000 Ameri-
cans die due to a ruptured
aortic aneurysm.
The aorta is the main ar-
tery that carries blood from
the heart to the rest of
the body. An aortic
aneurysm i s an
abnormal bulge
in the wall of the
aorta. It can oc-
cur as a result of
atherosclerosis (hard-
ening of the arteries caused
by a buildup of cholesterol and
other fatty deposits), weakening of
the artery wall from smoking or high
blood pressure, a congenital weakness of the
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