Aneurysms: What to know, who’s at risk and how they’re treated

Dr. Peter Brant-Zawadzki, MD, vascular surgeon and medical director of the Heart and Vascular Institute at
Providence Regional Medical Center Everett.

From monitoring to complex repair, advanced vascular care is available close to home in Everett

When a weakened artery wall begins to bulge under the steady pressure of blood flow, it can do so for years without warning. If left unmanaged, the vessel wall can become dangerously thin and rupture, causing life-threatening internal bleeding. 

Aneurysms can develop in blood vessels throughout the body but are most commonly found in the aorta, the body’s largest artery running from the heart through the chest and abdomen. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, aortic aneurysms remain a leading cause of cardiovascular death in the United States, with risk increasing with age.

“The majority of aneurysms are found incidentally on imaging done for another reason. Most of them are not a problem until they are, which is why knowing your risk factors is important,” says Dr. Peter Brant-Zawadzki, MD, vascular surgeon and medical director of the Heart and Vascular Institute at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett.

Key aneurysm risk factors and symptoms

Smoking is the most significant modifiable risk factor, accounting for approximately 75 percent of all abdominal aortic aneurysms according to the CDC. High blood pressure and diabetes also contribute. 

Non-modifiable factors include age, sex and genetic predisposition, with men more likely to develop aneurysms than women. 

Anyone with a first-degree relative who has had an aneurysm, particularly if they smoke or are over 50, should discuss screening with their doctor.

When symptoms do occur, the most common presentation is severe, unrelenting pain in the abdomen, chest or back. Less commonly, patients may experience sudden coldness or loss of function in the arms or legs. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should go directly to an emergency department.

Treatment depends on the size of the aneurysm, the patient’s anatomy and overall health. 

Smaller aneurysms that are not causing symptoms are typically managed through surveillance. Larger or symptomatic aneurysms may require open surgical repair or a minimally invasive stent graft procedure.

Advanced cardiovascular care close to home

For complex aortic disease, the depth of a program’s experience matters and patients in the region don’t need to travel far to find it. 

The vascular surgery team at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett includes six university-trained surgeons who collaborate closely, performing between 50 and 100 aneurysm repairs per year. 

The team operates within a hybrid operating room equipped for both open and endovascular procedures, with access to a broad range of devices for elective and emergent repairs, and works closely with cardiac surgery colleagues on complex cases.

“If someone thinks they may be at risk, their first step is seeing a primary care doctor and requesting a referral,” Dr. Brant-Zawadzki says. “From there, we can guide patients through the appropriate diagnostic imaging process.”

Explore all Providence Swedish clinics and care centers online here and learn more about services offered at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett at providence.org/locations/wa/providence-regional-medical-center-everett.

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