Peripheral Artery Aneurysms

An aneurysm is a condition that appears on an artery wall that has weakened, where a section develops a balloon-like bulge.

A peripheral artery aneurysm is when this condition affects an artery other than the aorta (the main artery in the body). This condition most often appears in an artery in the legs or neck. Several types of peripheral artery aneurysms exist:

Renal artery aneurysm: An aneurysm in the artery delivering blood to the kidneys
Femoral artery aneurysm: An aneurysm in the arteries in your groin
Popliteal artery aneurysm: An aneurysm in the artery behind the knees
Carotid artery aneurysm: An aneurysm in the artery in the neck

Symptoms

The symptoms of this condition vary based on which artery is affected and include:

High blood pressure
Pain on one side of the abdomen
Sudden leg pain
Weak or numb legs
Painful or discolored toes
Fainting
Stomach pain
Throbbing lump in neck, arm, leg, groin
Sores that won’t heal on fingers, toes

Diagnosis: What tests are needed?

To accurately identify the location of an aneurysm, you may require one or more tests, which could include ultrasound testing, a CT scan, an MRI, or an angiogram.

At Advanced Surgical Technology, we offer several diagnostic tests in-office, including:

Ankle-brachial index (ABI)
Arterial ultrasound
Diagnostic angiogram

We provide a range of tests for a pre-surgical workup and always ensure you are comfortable and fully informed throughout testing, diagnosis treatment, and recovery.

Treatment for a peripheral artery aneurysm in Mt. Vernon and Centralia

Your treatment plan will be customized to match your specific condition. The approach will reflect the location and size of the problem, the condition of your blood vessels in the area, and your general state of health.

For smaller peripheral artery aneurysms, we may recommend closely monitoring the condition, along with lifestyle changes. For larger aneurysms, a grafting procedure is most often the best and least invasive approach.

What is a graft?

A grafting procedure involves rerouting the blood supply flowing through the bulging area of the artery. A graft, whether natural or synthetic, is placed to bypass the aneurysm. It is most commonly performed endoscopically, a less invasive approach than open surgery, which is rarely needed.

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What causes a peripheral artery aneurysm?

The causes behind developing a peripheral artery aneurysm are not fully understood, but some factors are known to increase risk:

Heart or vascular disease runs in your family
You have high blood pressure (hypertension)
Your cholesterol numbers are high
Obesity
Smoking

Peripheral artery aneurysm in leg

The most common place a peripheral artery aneurysm develops is in the popliteal artery, the artery on the back of the lower thigh, running to the knee. Other common locations where peripheral aneurysms occur include the femoral artery (groin), carotid artery (neck), and the arteries supplying blood to your arms. If you have been diagnosed with a peripheral artery aneurysm in one leg, it is more likely you will develop (or have already developed) one in the other leg.

Why choose Advanced Surgical Technology in Mt. Vernon and Centralia?

Dr. Liyanage is a highly skilled, experienced vascular surgeon who has established a clinic that provides a truly outstanding level of compassionate, patient-centric care. Our multidisciplinary practice offers advanced vascular surgery, general surgery, primary care, cosmetics, and aesthetics, and every treatment is customized to match individual needs.

Every member of our team is dedicated to superior care with the highest level of integrity. Our approach sets us apart from other vascular surgery centers, down to answering the phones personally and offering same-day appointments. Our on-site lab makes a visit more convenient, with faster testing results.

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