Aortic Aneurysm

An aneurysm is an abnormal bulge or "ballooning" in the wall of an artery. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to other parts of the body. An aneurysm that grows and becomes large enough can burst, causing dangerous, often fatal bleeding inside the body. Aneurysms also can occur in arteries in the brain, heart, intestine, neck, spleen, back of the knees and thighs, and in other parts of the body. If an aneurysm in the brain bursts, it causes a stroke.

In humans, thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is an inherited life-threatening heart disorder in which the aorta enlarges until it eventually bursts or dissects. Because it is difficult to diagnose victims often die young. The slowly enlarging aorta does not cause any symptoms until it has reached a critical diameter. At that point, the aorta dissects or ruptures, both of which are life-threatening.

Current surgical treatment of TAAs usually involves a major operation, which conveys many risks to the patient. This surgical option only treats the end stage of the disease when the threat of rupture is considered to be imminent. For both abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms, there are no medically proven modes of treatment.²

Aortic Aneurysms In Dogs

In dogs, familial aortic aneurysm has been reported in Leonberger dogs.

In some cases, aortic aneurysms result the infestation of the walls of the esophagus by certain parasites of dogs. Spirocerca lupi is a nematode parasite of dogs in the Southern United States. Following ingestion, the encysted larvae are freed and migrate through the wall of the stomach and the aorta to the esophagus, where they mature. Larval migration and worm nodules in the esophagus can cause aortic aneurysm. Aortic scars, aneurysms, ossification and local thrombosis may result from larvae burrowing through aortic walls. Fatal bleeding occurs due to sudden aortic rupture.

Aortic throms are diagnised sonographically, radiographically, and using CT-angiography. Also quite rare in the United States, the parasite is a serious pathogen of dogs, causing potentially fatal heart and lung disease. Ocular and central nervous system disease and bleeding also have been reported.⁴

A case of mycotic aortic aneurysm in a German Shepherd dog has recently been reported. Fungal organisms were identified in the aortic aneurysm as well as from the thoracic vertebrae, lymph nodes, spleen, kidneys, liver, lungs, and heart.⁵

References

1. Aortic Aneurysm - University of Michigan Cardiac Surgery
2. Hong Lu, Debra L. Rateri, Lisa A. Cassis, and Alan Daugherty. The Role of the Renin-Angiotensin System in Aortic Aneurysmal Diseases
3. Todd R. Tams. Handbook of small animal gastroenterology
4. A. Zajac, Gary A. Conboy. Veterinary clinical parasitology
5. James Sutherland-Smith, BVSc, Diplomate ACVR and Catherine L. Rogers, DVM, Diplomate ACVECC. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Associated with Systemic Fungal Infection in a German Shepherd Dog. Ryan T. Gershenson, DVM, Raffaele Melidone

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