What should be done about an enlarged aortic vessel in the heart?
Disease description:
My mother has had hypertension for three years, and she often feels palpitations, dizziness, and blurred vision. What should we do about the widened aorta?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Wang Xin
The treatment for aortic dilatation should be individualized based on the specific cause and severity. The main management strategies include:
1. Control of underlying diseases: Hypertension is one of the main causes of aortic dilatation; therefore, active blood pressure control is essential. This can be achieved through a low-salt and low-fat diet, regular physical activity, smoking and alcohol cessation, and appropriate antihypertensive medications (e.g., irbesartan, captopril) as directed by a physician, to reduce blood pressure and aortic stress.
2. Pharmacological therapy: For aortic dilatation caused by inflammatory diseases (such as aortitis), anti-inflammatory treatment with glucocorticoids (e.g., dexamethasone, methylprednisolone) may be used, along with consideration of immunosuppressants (e.g., cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine) as needed.
3. Surgical treatment: In cases of severe aortic dilatation, especially when an aneurysm has formed, surgical intervention should be considered based on the risk of rupture. Procedures may include aneurysmectomy or replacement with a prosthetic vascular graft. For patients unsuitable for surgery, interventional approaches such as stent graft placement may be considered.
4. Regular monitoring: Regardless of the treatment approach, close follow-up monitoring of aortic diameter is essential to detect any rapid deterioration in a timely manner.
