An Aortic aneurysm refers to a condition where the aorta has a part that is overstretched and which consequently bulges out of the aorta’s wall. In such a condition, the increase in size may be up to double the normal size
of the blood vessel. There are different types of this form of aneurysm, and this is dependent on the specific region where the aorta is. This is a crucial condition bearing in mind that the aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. The fact that the aorta could burst open at anytime makes it a life risk. So, what should you do in case of an Aortic aneurysm?
The material posted on this page on aortic aneurysm is for learning purposes only. To learn to recognize and manage serious circulatory and cardiac emergencies sign up for first aid and CPR training with one of our providers.
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bnoo5insrUQ” width=”220″]What To Do?
Below are the steps that you should follow to make sure that you deal with the emergency appropriately. Call 911 immediately if the patient starts to experience the following symptoms:
- Extreme severe pain
- A sudden drop in an individual’s blood pressure.
- The patient starts to show signs of shock including getting unconscious, feeling weak and inability to pay attention.
After you have called 911 monitor the victims vitals. If he or she is unconscious and not breathing you may need to begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation. An important technique in saving lives, CPR has to be carried out in the correct manner. There are two ways to carry out CPR: the first involves mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while the second involves hands only CPR. The latter is more common because it tends to be less complicated and does not include rescue breaths. Quite a number of people find rescue breaths uncomfortable due to lack of barrier device and therefore opt for compression only CPR.
When should you call for medical help if you suspect you are suffering from Aortic aneurysm?
- An abrupt and intense throbbing pain in your abdomen.
- Sudden weakness that arises in your lower limbs and tends to be on one side of the body.
- A blue toe, one that is usually accompanied by pain for no reason.
- Weight loss that is inexplicable, and which is sometimes accompanied by a fever.
Which medical professional should you see if you have any of the above-listed symptoms?
Medical professionals are in a position to tell whether a patient is suffering from an aortic aneurysm or not. In some cases, the medical professional will recommend for additional tests to be done. These professionals include:
- Physicians and especially those who have specialized in family medicine.
- Practitioners in the nursing field.
- Cardiologists. If this is not an option, vascular surgeons can also get the job done. The latter are preferred when a patient has an Aortic aneurysm that is increasing at a very fast rate.
Knowing what this condition entails means that you are better prepared for it and are in a position to act better.