Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Los Angeles

Treatment Options for Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms (TAA)



Request Appointment

What are Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms (TAA)?

The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body that carries blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs. An aneurysm is a bulging or ballooning in your artery that can grow overtime and cause the vessel wall to weaken putting you at risk for a rupture. “Thoracic” refers to the portion of the aorta that runs through your chest. When you develop an aneurysm in this area it is called a thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA). Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are more common than thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA).

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms Q & A

Older man holding chest exhibiting signs of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

Seek medical care if you experiencing symptoms of TAA.

What are the risk factors for TAA?

Family history of thoracic aortic aneurysm surgery
Genetic and/or degenerative disorders
The buildup of plaque in arteries that restricts blood flow
High blood pressure
Atherosclerosis
Marfan syndrome
Smoking
Vasculitis

What are the symptoms of TAA?

Symptoms of thoracic aortic aneurysm are a result of the aneurysm growing and putting pressure on the surrounding organs. Symptoms vary depending on the size and location of your thoracic aortic aneurysm. Some patients that have TAA experience no symptoms at all, yet are in need of aortic aneurysm repair.

If you experience sudden, severe pain this could be a sign of aneurysm rupture which can be life-threatening. You should seek medical care immediately.

The following are the most common symptoms of TAA:

Pain in the chest or back
Cough
Hoarseness
Trouble swallowing/ painful swallowing
Family history of thoracic aortic aneurysm
Shortness of breath for no apparent reason

Labeled illustration of types of Aortic Aneurysms

Labeled illustration of the abdominal aorta with aneurysm and the thoracic aorta with aneurysm.

Treatment Options for Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms

Depending on the size and location of your thoracic aortic aneurysm, prior to vascular surgery, your doctor may recommend you stop smoking, high blood pressure medication, lifestyle modifications, and/or monitoring. Surgical intervention, such as an endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), is recommended for thoracic aneurysms > 5.0 cm in size.

The following are treatment options for TAA:

Open surgical repair with a surgical graft
Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) with stent graft

To schedule an evaluation at Southern California Multi-Specialty Center, call 818-900-6480.

Our Vascular & Endovascular Surgeons

It's important to remember not all physicians are trained in advanced vascular and endovascular surgery. It’s a good practice to get multiple opinions and do research on the surgery and the physician.