DefinePK

Abstract

The aorta is a large blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of thebody. The aortic root consists of the aortic valve and the openings for thecoronary arteries (the coronary ostia). An aortic aneurysm is an abnormal bulgein the wall of the aorta. If an aneurysm develops in the aortic root, the aorta candilate and the aortic valve can leak. If the aneurysm continues to expand, it canrupture and can cause life-threatening internal bleeding.Aneurysms of the aortic root are often due to degenerative disease of media.Aneurysm of the aortic root often affects patients in their second to fourthdecades of life. These aneurysms can cause aortic insufficiency, dissection,and/or rupture.Small and slow-growing thoracic aortic aneurysms may not everrupture, but large, fast-growing aneurysms may rupture.Depending on the size and growth rate of aortic aneurysm, treatment may varyfrom watchful waiting to emergency surgery. Ideally, surgery for a thoracic aorticaneurysm can be planned if necessary. Current guidelines recommend surgicaltreatment when the diameter of the aneurysm exceeds 50 mm. Here we report acase of thoracic aneurysm with postductal coarctation of aorta .