Are Spider Veins a Health Concern?
Spider veins don’t always require treatment, but they can help you catch underlying issues early. Find out what spider veins can tell you about your vascular health and what you can do about it.
The Difference Between True Aneurysms and False Aneurysms
Aneurysm and pseudoaneurysm, or false aneurysm, are two different conditions. An aneurysm happens when a weak area of a blood vessel forms a bulge. The aneurysm may rupture if the blood vessel wall continues to weaken.
A pseudoaneurysm is the result of an injury to an artery that pierces the blood vessel wall and causes blood to pool. This is often a complication of a procedure called cardiac catheterization, which allows your doctor to see how well blood vessels supply the heart. Some pseudoaneurysms heal on their own, while others are more serious.
Our endovascular intervention specialist at Advanced Heart & Vascular Associates, Nader Chadda, MD, FACC, FSCAI, performs a full range of vascular interventions, including aneurysm and pseudoaneurysm repair.
How aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms differ
While both aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms appear as blood-filled pockets on a blood vessel, a true aneurysm is distinct from a pseudoaneurysm. Blood vessels have three layers, an inner lining, a muscular middle layer, and a tough outer jacket called the adventitia.
In a true aneurysm, all three layers of the blood vessel weaken, stretch, and thin out. This causes the affected area of the blood vessel to bulge like a balloon. A pseudoaneurysm is a hole in the blood vessel that occurs when the inner layers of the blood vessel are punctured. Blood leaks out, but it is contained in the outermost layer of the artery.
Because it looks similar to a true aneurysm, it’s referred to as a “false” or “pseudo” aneurysm.
Types of pseudoaneurysms
False aneurysms are classified based on their location. The following are three common types of pseudoaneurysms.
Femoral pseudoaneurysm
The most common type of pseudoaneurysm occurs as a rare complication of a medical procedure such as an angiogram, in which a catheter is inserted into the femoral artery in the groin.
Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm
This type of aneurysm is a rare complication of a heart attack. It occurs when the heart muscle tears, resulting in blood pooling between the heart’s outer wall and the surrounding sac.
Aortic pseudoaneurysms
Aortic pseudoaneurysms are rare. They can happen due to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), infections, blunt force trauma to the chest, or a surgical complication.
Diagnosis and treatment
Dr. Chadda performs comprehensive evaluations to distinguish between true and false aneurysms to make an accurate diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, Dr. Chadda designs customized treatment plans for each patient.
The type, location, and size of the aneurysm influence diagnostic procedures and determine the course of treatment. Because pseudoaneurysms are contained by the outer layer of the blood vessel, which is less stable, they may carry a higher risk of rupture, depending on the circumstances.
Dr. Chadda has extensive experience performing vascular interventions using cutting-edge techniques. His approach focuses on minimally invasive procedures and offers comprehensive care for even the most complex cases.
Located in Hudson and Brooksville, Florida, our team is dedicated to excellence. To learn more, contact Advanced Heart & Vascular Associates today to schedule a consultation.
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