The spleen is an important organ in the human body, which performs several important functions at once. The body is responsible for the metabolism, and any violations in its work can lead to sad consequences. It often happens that the splenic artery is affected. The most common is an aneurysm of the artery, in which the walls begin to deform and sometimes swell, which leads to thinning and the formation of cavities, which eventually fill up with blood. If you do not pay attention to the disease during, then this will lead to serious pathologies in the cardiovascular system, in some cases a fatal outcome is possible.
Anatomy and causes of aneurysm
The splenic artery originates from the celiac trunk and has a course along the pancreas. Branches that leave almost to the bottom of the stomach depart from the artery in question. As a rule, there are three roots of the splenic branch, which connect and form one large venous column. It is very dangerous when a disease called aneurysm begins to develop.
Aneurysm of the splenic artery is more common in women and older people. The reason lies in the development of atherosclerosis and malnutrition for a long time. Men are less likely to be affected, and if medical cases occur, then this is due to age. Despite this, young people may be at risk and the reasons for this are hidden in the following:
- If the patient suffers from high pressure in the hepatic vein or spleen, then most likely he will develop an aneurysm over time.
- At risk are people with damaged internal walls of the arteries.
- In women, aneurysm can develop subsequently in a multiple pregnancy.
Only a professional can establish the exact cause and prescribe treatment.
How to recognize a pathology?
Most often, patients do not have pronounced symptoms, and the disease can be detected by examining the abdominal organs. In this regard, it is difficult to understand quickly that a person is sick with an aneurysm of the spleen. If the disease can be detected in the early stages, then treatment will give the most positive result, but before that it will be important to conduct a complete diagnosis of the whole organism. To identify aneurysm, you should pay attention to such signs:
- In the left hypochondrium, dull and prolonged pain can occur.
- If the doctor palpates in the affected area, the person will feel unpleasant sensations.
Branches of the splenic artery can be checked using x-rays, ultrasound and MRI. The priority research method is still considered an x-ray, since using this type of research it will be possible to establish the size of the aneurysm and its location.
Types of Aneurysm
Doctors distinguish two main types of aneurysm:
- Saccular aneurysms of the splenic arteries, which develop precisely in those places where the artery branches discharge.
- Diffuse aneurysms are located in the area of the main trunk.
It should be noted that aneurysms are true and false. Most often, one aneurysm develops, multiple lesions are found in medicine much less often.
How does a false aneurysm manifest itself?
False aneurysm is rare, but considered the most dangerous. The reason for the appearance of such an aneurysm may be not a deformed splenic artery at all, but a rupture of the vessel and the formation of a hematoma. The disease can be detected when the patient has bleeding from the upper intestine, and there will be no reason for the manifestation of this symptom.
The doctor can diagnose a false aneurysm with the help of the appearance of noise, it will amplify during pulsation and listening to noise in the internal organs.
What can be the complications?
The main danger is that rupture of the splenic artery may occur. If the patient does not receive first aid, this will lead to death. Basically, there are two types of gap: full and incomplete. In the first case, the wall of the vessel that was deformed is completely damaged, a hematoma is formed, and the person himself experiences severe pain and anemia. If the rupture of the aneurysm does not occur completely, then a hematoma forms behind the peritoneum and the bleeding stops for a while, and the patient's blood pressure also drops. In any case, you should not hesitate to go to the hospital, where specialists will be able to diagnose and prescribe the correct treatment.
Treatment
If the patient was diagnosed with splenic artery aneurysm, treatment can be carried out depending on the complexity of the disease and its stage. If treatment is started during the time, then complications can be easily avoided.
Most often, doctors use drug therapy, but nevertheless the most effective method is surgery. An operation can be scheduled in such cases:
- Rupture of aneurysm.
- Pathology, which was determined at birth.
- When a large aneurysm is diagnosed.
Often, splenic artery embolization is used. With the help of such an operation, there is every chance to carry out successful decompression of the artery, which will dramatically reduce blood flow to the spleen and lower the pressure in the hepatic artery.
Such treatment can be done even at a later date. If the operation is not needed, then the patient should be constantly examined and monitored by the attending physician in order to prevent its further development.
Forecast
The splenic artery plays an important role in the human body and aneurysm prevents it from functioning. The main danger is that the disease can not be detected for a long time, since it is asymptomatic. If an acute pain appears in the right hypochondrium, you should immediately consult a doctor. Modern medicine allows you to choose the most suitable treatment and serves as a prevention for the development of more complex other diseases.
If the surgery was successful, then the prognosis for recovery is favorable. But if the patient refuses the operation when the doctor insists on this, the consequences can be sad, since at any time the splenic artery can rupture, and this will lead to death. Any negative change in the body should be monitored and constantly observed by doctors. We should also pay attention to the principles of proper nutrition:
- Monitor your cholesterol levels.
- Give up all bad habits.
- Measure blood pressure.
It is not recommended to treat such a serious pathology with folk remedies, since you can only worsen the general condition. According to statistics, the threat to life with an aneurysm of the artery is only 2%, but among them almost 25% is fatal. The disease is especially dangerous for pregnant women, since there is a high risk of complications, it is almost 70%.
After surgery, patients recover quickly, and the risk of complications comes down to only 30%. From this it follows that it is necessary during the time to identify the disease and begin proper treatment. In this case, the quality of life and its duration of the sick person will not change.