Aortic Aneurysm

An aortic aneurysm is a serious condition in which the aorta, the body’s main artery, becomes enlarged or weakened. Our experienced team provides expert care and advanced treatments to monitor, manage and treat aortic aneurysms, keeping you safe.

Aneurysms can develop anywhere along the aorta, most often in the chest or abdomen. They may show up during a routine scan or cause sudden symptoms.

At MU Health Care, our vascular and cardiac surgeons work together to diagnose and treat both thoracic (chest) and abdominal aortic aneurysms. When immediate care is needed in the case of an aortic rupture, our team is prepared to act quickly to restore healthy blood flow and avoid complications.

You’ll have access to advanced imaging, minimally invasive procedures and national clinical trial devices not widely available at other hospitals. And our hybrid operating rooms allow us to perform precise, minimally invasive repairs, even in emergencies.

Our Approach to Aortic Aneurysm Care

An aortic aneurysm doesn’t always cause symptoms, but it can be life-threatening if it ruptures.

At MU Health Care, our vascular and cardiac specialists work together to monitor, manage and treat all types of aortic aneurysms.

Aortic Aneurysm Symptoms

Symptoms of an aortic aneurysm may not appear until it becomes large or ruptures. When symptoms appear, they may include:

A pulsing sensation near the belly button
Back, chest or abdominal pain that may be constant or severe
Hoarseness, cough or upper chest pain
Shortness of breath or trouble swallowing (with thoracic aneurysms)
Sudden, severe pain in the chest or abdomen — a sign of possible rupture that requires immediate emergency care

When to Call Your Doctor

Because aneurysms can grow without symptoms, early detection is important, especially if you have:

Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries
Connective tissue disorders, such as Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Family history of aortic aneurysm
High blood pressure
Infections involving the aorta
Older age, as artery walls stiffen over time
Prior traumatic injury to the chest or abdomen
Smoking, current or past

If you suddenly have intense pain in your chest, back or abdomen, especially if it comes on quickly and doesn’t go away, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. These symptoms may point to a rupture, which requires immediate attention.

Types of Aortic Aneurysms

Aortic aneurysms are named for where they occur along the aorta, the body’s largest artery.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA): Develops in the part of the aorta that passes through the abdomen. Symptoms may include back or belly pain and a pulsing sensation near the belly button. Treatment often involves a minimally invasive procedure called endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) to reinforce the weakened section and restore blood flow.
Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA): Forms in the section of the aorta that runs through the chest. These aneurysms may cause chest or back pain, shortness of breath or difficulty swallowing. Treatment often involves thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), a minimally invasive procedure that supports the aortic wall with a stent graft.

Your care team will monitor the aneurysm’s size and growth to determine the best time for treatment.

How We Diagnose Aortic Aneurysms

Our specialists use advanced imaging and screening tools to detect aortic aneurysms early and guide precise treatment. We’ll start by reviewing your medical history, risk factors and any symptoms. Depending on your needs, we may recommend several tests to make a diagnosis:

CT scans: Show the exact size, shape and location of the aneurysm.
Echocardiogram (echo): Checks how well your heart and aorta are functioning.
Cardiac stress testing: Evaluates your overall heart health before treatment.
Ultrasound imaging: This radiation‑free test checks your abdomen for any bulges or weak areas. This noninvasive test helps your doctor measure the aneurysm and track its size over time.

When possible, we will review any imaging you have gotten elsewhere before your first visit and may arrange follow-up scans closer to home, reducing unnecessary travel and repeat tests.

How We Treat Aortic Aneurysms

Our goal is to prevent rupture, restore healthy blood flow and protect your long‑term vascular health.

Treatment depends on the aneurysm’s size, location and risk of rupture. We offer both open and minimally invasive options.

Minimally Invasive Endovascular Procedures

Our vascular surgeons perform the full range of stent graft repairs for both abdominal and thoracic aneurysms using small punctures instead of open incisions. You may stay in the hospital for one night and return to normal activity within a few weeks.

Procedures include:

Chimney and Snorkel EVAR (Ch-EVAR): For complex aneurysms involving kidney or intestinal arteries, this technique extends repair higher along the aorta using parallel grafts.
EVAR (endovascular aneurysm repair): A standard repair for abdominal aortic aneurysms, placed through small incisions in the groin.
FEVAR (fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair): Custom-designed stent grafts for aneurysms near branch arteries to the kidneys or intestines.
IBE (iliac branched endoprosthesis): Treats aneurysms involving the iliac arteries while preserving blood flow to the pelvis, thereby reducing cramping and other complications.
LIFE (laser in situ fenestrated endograft): An investigational option for urgent or emergency cases that uses laser‑created fenestrations. Available through an FDA Investigational Device Exemption (IDE), MU Health Care has the nation’s only laser‑fenestrated IDE.
TAMBE (thoracoabdominal multi‑branched endoprosthesis): For aneurysms spanning the chest and abdomen. MU Health Care is an early U.S. training site and high‑enrolling center in the national TAMBE trial.

Open Surgical Repair

Depending on your anatomy or the complexity of the aneurysm, open surgery may be the safest option.

Our surgeons have extensive experience with open aortic reconstructions, including thoracoabdominal repairs and hybrid procedures performed in our dedicated hybrid operating rooms. Hospital stays typically last several days, with recovery continuing at home.

Follow-Up Care

We may schedule your first imaging checkup about one month after surgery, followed by scans at six months and then yearly, depending on your results.

Follow-up visits may be every 6 to 12 months or more often if your care plan needs to be adjusted. If you live outside mid‑Missouri, we may be able to review your imaging remotely and offer telehealth visits to keep your follow‑up convenient and accessible.