University of Wisconsin Cardiovascular Surgery: Aortic Aneurysm

Aortic Aneurysm

The aorta is the largest and most important blood vessel in the body. It supplies oxygen-rich blood from the heart to every other organ system.

An aortic aneurysm is an abnormal bulge in the wall of the aorta. An aneurysm can develop in the part of the aorta that runs through the chest or the abdomen.

Aortic aneurysms are serious disorders. If an aneurysm bursts or tears, it can cause life-threatening internal bleeding. For this reason, timely surgical repair of an aortic aneurysm is critical.

Surgeons at the UW Health’s Complex Aortic Surgery program have substantial expertise in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of all types of aortic aneurysms.