Factors affecting the price of aortic aneurysm treatment in 2023
What is the cost of aortic aneurysm surgery in Egypt?
If you are a smoker or suffer from hypertension or any other complications that result from smoking, this article is for you. We will explain one of the complications that may result from smoking, which is an aortic aneurysm. What is it, what are its symptoms, how is it treated, and is smoking a major cause in this case? How much does it cost for aortic surgery, or what is the cost of an aortic stent?
Aortic aneurysm:
An aneurysm occurs when part of the artery wall weakens, allowing it to swell or expand abnormally.
The causes of aneurysms are sometimes unknown, some of them may be congenital, meaning that the patient was born with it, and a family history of aneurysms may increase the risk of developing this disease. Other risk factors include hypertension, hypercholesteremia, and smoking; as smoking has a role in the incidence of this disease.
The aorta can expand little by little until it bursts and ruptures, and become a life-threatening emergency if not treated.
Early diagnosis and treatment prevent such complications. After the diagnosis, the doctor can deal with the situation by prescribing certain medications or performing surgical procedures to slow and stop the growth of the aneurysm.
Some facts about aortic aneurysms:
• Aortic aneurysms caused the death of nearly 9000 people in 2017.
• 60% of the cases were men.
• 75% of the cases were smokers.
• Some guidelines recommend that men aged 65 and 75 with a long smoking history undergo an annual ultrasound examination and other procedures to detect an aortic aneurysm.
What are the types of aortic aneurysms?
There are two types of aortic aneurysms, thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms.
What are the causes and risk factors that lead to this situation?
An aortic aneurysm is caused by the weakening of the artery wall that results from damage or injury. Many health conditions and daily lifestyle habits can lead to this case. Risk factors include:
• Age: The older you get, the greater the risk.
• Family medical history.
• Lifestyle: Smoking increases the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm.
• Use of stimulants such as cocaine.
• Pathological conditions such as vasculitis, some kidney diseases, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and arteriosclerosis.
What are the symptoms of an aortic aneurysm?
An aneurysm can develop slowly over many years, often asymptomatic. If the expansion is close to the skin, it may be painful and include swelling with a visible pulsating mass. As the aneurysm develops, complications develop and symptoms arise suddenly to include:
• Severe pain.
• Feeling dizzy.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Accelerated heartbeat.
• Hypotension.
• Trauma.
• Shortness of breath if the aneurysm is pressing on the lungs.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm diagnosis:
Aortic aneurysms are often diagnosed when your doctor examines your abdomen for another reason. If your doctor suspects you have this condition, he will examine your stomach to see if it is solid or has a pulsating mass. He may also check the blood flow in your legs or order one of the following rays:
• CT scan of the abdomen.
• Abdominal ultrasound.
• Chest X-ray.
• Abdominal MRI.
Aortic repair:
Depending on the cause and size of the arterial aneurysm and the speed of its growth, your doctor will recommend surgery to repair it. If a rupture occurs, immediate surgery may be required, including:
• Open surgery:
It is the most common type. In this surgery, the patient will be general anesthetized. The surgical team first makes an incision in the abdomen or chest depending on the expansion site, then repairs the stretch and installs a stent, a tube made of a special material to prevent leakage. It takes about a month to recover from that surgery.
• EVAR procedure:
It is a less invasive procedure than surgery, where the doctor makes a surgical incision in the groin and then guides the stent through the arteries until it reaches the site of the expansion and is widened and attached to the arterial walls to support it.
What determines the cost of aorta aneurysm treatment in Egypt?
The cost of aortic aneurysm surgery varies from one center to another. It depends on many factors, the most important of which are the type of aneurysm, its location, the type of procedure to be followed, the cost of anesthesia, the hospital, and the doctor’s fee.
