By: Valerry Esperanza & Mary Grace Formantes

An aneurysm is an
abnormal widening or
ballooning of a portion
of an artery due to
weakness in the wall of
the blood vessel. A
thoracic aortic
aneurysm occurs in the
part of the body's
largest artery (the
aorta) that passes
through the chest.
A thoracic aortic aneurysm is a weakened area in the
upper part of the aorta. The aorta is the major blood
vessel that feeds blood to the body.
A thoracic aortic aneurysm may also be called thoracic
aneurysm and aortic dissection (TAAD) because an
aneurysm can lead to a tear in the artery wall (dissection)
that can cause life-threatening bleeding. Small and slow-
growing thoracic aortic aneurysms may not ever rupture,
but large, fast-growing aneurysms may rupture.
Depending on the size and growth rate of your thoracic
aortic aneurysm, treatment may vary from watchful
waiting to emergency surgery. Ideally, surgery for a
thoracic aortic aneurysm can be planned if necessary.
 High blood pressure.
 Buildup of plaques in your arteries
(atherosclerosis).
 Age
 Family History
 People with Marfan Syndrome
 Smoking
 Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).
 Genetic conditions.
• Other medical conditions.
• Untreated infection.
• Traumatic injury.
Tenderness or pain in the chest
Back pain
Hoarseness
Cough
Shortness of breath
If an aneurysm ruptures or one or more layers of the
artery wall splits (dissection), you may feel:

 Sharp, sudden pain in the upper back that radiates

downward
 Pain in your chest, jaw, neck or arms
 Difficulty breathing
 Chest X-ray
 Echocardiogram
 CT scan
 Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA)
Strict control of blood pressure and
reduction in pulsatile flow.
Systolic pressure maintained at 100 to 120
mm Hg with antihypertensive drugs, such as
nitroprusside.
Pulsatile flow reduced by medications that
reduce cardiac contractility, such as
propanolol.
 Open chest surgery. Open chest surgery to repair a
thoracic aortic aneurysm involves removing the damaged
section of the aorta and replacing it with a synthetic tube
(graft), which is sewn into place. This procedure requires
open abdominal or open chest surgery, and it will take you a
month or more to fully recover.
 Other heart surgeries. If another condition is contributing
to your aneurysm's development, such as a problem with your
heart's valves, your doctor may recommend additional
surgeries to repair or replace the damaged valves to stop
your aneurysm from worsening.
Anxiety maybe related to:

 Close monitoring by medical or nursing staff

 Fear of death
 Impending surgery
 Multiple tests and procedures
 Sudden onset of illness
Deficient Knowledge may be related to:
 New medical problem
 Unfamiliarity with surgical procedure and hospital care

Risk for Fluid Volume Deficiency related to

Hemmorhage
Risk for Ineffective Tissue Perfusion may be
related to:

 Conditions that increase stress on the arterial wall,

leading to risk for dissection
 Defect in the vessel wall, leading to risk for dissection
 Trauma
 Monitor for signs of stroke or cardiac tamponade
caused by dissection.
 Teach the patient to recognize and report signs and
symptoms of an expanding aneurysm or rupture.
 Teach the patient about blood pressure medications and
the importance of taking them as prescribed.
 Assess the client’s knowledge of the disease and
treatment options.
 Post-operative care, continuously monitor patient’s vital
signs
 Check extremities for sensation, temperature, pulses,
color, capillary refill, and petechiae
 Monitor temperature and incision for signs of infection.
 Administer antibiotics, if ordered, to prevent infection.
 Encourage adequate nutritional intake to enhance wound
healing.