Aneurysms Summary An aneurysm is a 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. If an aneurysm grows large, it can burst and cause dangerous bleeding or even death. Most aneurysms occur in the aorta, the main artery that runs from the heart through the chest and abdomen. Aneurysms also can happen in arteries in the brain, heart and other parts of the body. If an aneurysm in the brain bursts, it causes a stroke. Aneurysms can develop and become large before causing any symptoms. Often doctors can stop aneurysms from bursting if they find and treat them early. They use imaging tests to find aneurysms. Often aneurysms are found by chance during tests done for other reasons. Medicines and surgery are the two main treatments for aneurysms. NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Start Here Aneurysm National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute When Blood Vessels Bulge: All About Aneurysms National Institutes of Health Array Aneurysm Magnetic resonance angiography Treatments and Therapies Aneurysm Repair Texas Heart Institute Catheter Embolization Array How Is an Aneurysm Treated? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Seniors Aneurysms AGS Foundation for Health in Aging Related Issues Cardiac catheterization: What causes a pseudoaneurysm? Should a pseudoaneurysm always be treated? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Diagnosis and Tests Catheter Angiography Array Chest CT Scan National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute CT Angiography (CTA) Array Doppler Ultrasound: What Is It Used for? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research MR Angiography (MRA) Array Ultrasound — Vascular Array What Is Chest MRI? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Aneurysm National Institutes of Health Genetics Genetics Home Reference: arterial tortuosity syndrome National Library of Medicine Reference Desk Glossary Vascular Cures Encyclopedia Heart CT scan Left heart ventricular angiography Find an Expert National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Journal Articles Aneurysms, aneurysms Dissecting aneurysms Ruptured aneurysms
