GROUP B | 12 - CLEOPAS

PERFORMANCE TASK 2 – INFOPOSTER: ORGANISMAL BODY

ANEURYSM

INTRODUCTION
Aneurysm is a type of disease in which there is bulging or swelling in the walls of the
blood vessel. It occurs when the weakened area of blood vessel wall expands or stretches out,
causing the blood vessel to balloon out or swell out and vulnerable to rapture. Although
Aneurysm can develop in various parts of the body, including the heart, brain, abdomen,
aorta (largest artery in the body) and other blood vessels, it is often found in branches or “forks”
of the arteries due to those areas of blood vessels are weaker and it commonly forms in arteries
of the brain.

There are three different types of Aneurysms; Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic Aortic
Aneurysm, and Cerebral Aneurysm.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm – An abdominal aortic aneurysm is type of aortic
aneurysm which affects the aorta in the abdomen.
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm – A thoracic aneurysm is a type of aortic aneurysm which
affects the aorta in the chest.
Cerebral Aneurysm – A cerebral aneurysm is type of aneurysm that occurs in the blood
vessel in the brain. Aneurysms in the brain can be particularly dangerous, as they can
cause bleeding or a stroke if they rupture.
CAUSES
• Congenital Aneurysm – a weakness in the blood vessel wall that is present in from
birth.
• Trauma such as crush, injury to of any kind which can damage the blood vessel can
cause aneurysm to form.
• Atherosclerosis or build up of fatty plaque in the arteries can damage and weaken
blood vessel walls which can result in aneurysm.
• Sexually transmitted infection (STI) syphilis can target the aorta and weakening its
walls can lead to aneurysm if it remains untreated.
• In rare cases, an infection in blood vessel can weaken its walls and lead to aneurysm.
• Polycystic Kidney Disease can increase the of having cerebral aneurysm.
 GROUP B | 12 - CLEOPAS
PERFORMANCE TASK 2 – INFOPOSTER: ORGANISMAL BODY

DIAGNOSIS
An aneurysm is diagnosed using a number of tests including
• physical examination
• x-rays
• ultrasound scans
• computed tomography (CT) scans or CT angiograms
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or MR angiograms
• digital subtraction angiograms
• examination of cerebrospinal fluid (for a diagnosis of a subarachnoid haemorrhage).

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Aneurysms can have signs and symptoms on unruptured and ruptured aneurysm (aortic
aneurysm & cerebral aneurysm)
Aortic aneurysm
⎯ Back pain (unruptured)
⎯ Cough (unruptured)
⎯ Weak, scratchy voice or hoarseness
(unruptured)
⎯ Shortness of breath
⎯ Tenderness of pain in the chest
(unruptured)
⎯ Sharp, sudden pain in the upper back
that spreads downward (ruptured)
⎯ Pain in the chest, jaw, neck or arms
(ruptured)
⎯ Difficulty breathing (ruptured)
⎯ Low blood pressure (ruptured)
⎯ Loss of consciousness (ruptured)
⎯ Trouble swallowing (ruptured)
Cerebral aneurysm
⎯ Nausea and vomiting (ruptured)
⎯ Stiff neck (ruptured)
⎯ Blurred or double vision (ruptured)
⎯ Sensitivity to light (ruptured)
⎯ Seizure (ruptured)
⎯ A drooping eyelid (ruptured)
⎯ Loss of consciousness (ruptured)
⎯ Confusion (ruptured)
⎯ Pain above and behind one eye
(unruptured)
⎯ A dilated pupil (unruptured)
⎯ A change in vision or double vision
(unruptured)
⎯ Numbness of one side of the face
(unruptured)
 GROUP B | 12 - CLEOPAS
PERFORMANCE TASK 2 – INFOPOSTER: ORGANISMAL BODY

RISK FACTORS
• Lifestyle: Smoking can weaken blood vessel walls, making them more susceptible to
aneurysm formation.
• Weight: Obesity-related metabolic disorders such as Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia,
and chronic inflammation have been associated with aortic dilation which resulted in
aortic aneurysm.
• Gender: Although both genders have the risk of having aneurysm, women have higher
risk from cerebral aneurysm than men, especially after the menopausal age group where
the risk is the highest.
• Age: Aneurysm are common in older people (Ages from 30 – 60), as the walls of the
blood vessels becomes weaker over time.
• Family History: Aneurysm can be inherited so having medical history of aneurysm
raptures in your family can increase the risk of you having aneurysm.