Aortic aneurysm: awareness, causes and management

The term aneurysm describes a localised widening or ballooning of a section of an artery—an increase of greater than 50% of the normal size is defined as aneurysmal (UpChurch Jr and Criado, 2009). Aneurysmal changes can be found in any artery but are most commonly seen in the aorta (Nienaber and Fattori, 2012). Aneurysms can be asymptomatic or symptomatic, but may be life-threatening if there is sudden dissection or rupturing. This article describes the differences between abdominal and thoracic aneurysms, and explores the incidence, causes, and treatment of thoracic aneurysmal disease, highlighting the importance of vigilant postoperative care.