An aneurysm is when the walls of a blood vessel become weak and bulge out. Usually aneurysms happen in the aorta, but they can also occur in the peripheral vessels, including the femoral artery. If you experience an aneurysm in your left leg, you will likely experience one in your right. Likewise, once you experience a peripheral aneurysm, you are more likely to experience an aortic aneurysm.
Blood Cells
Femoral Artery
Like all arteries, the femoral artery is a branch of the aortic artery. It begins in your lower abdomen, passes through your groin area and into your thigh. It carries blood down your body, away from your heart. The counterpart to the femoral artery is the femoral vein, which brings the blood back up to the heart.
Symptoms
Most people may never know they have a femoral artery aneurysm, especially if it is small. However, others may experience symptoms. Depending on the size of the aneurysm, you may be able to feel an actual lump. This lump may be pulsating. Another symptom is cramping in your leg while exercising. In contrast to a symptom you experience while active is pain in your leg at rest. Because the aneurysm may compress a nerve, you may experience pain or numbness in your leg. In extreme cases, you may experience gangrene because of severe blood flow blockage.
Diagnosis
If you feel that you have any symptoms of a possible femoral artery aneurysm, it is important to see your doctor right away for diagnosis. First he or she will take a thorough medical history from you, as well perform a physical exam. Your doctor will then order one of several imaging tests to confirm that an aneurysm exists. You may be scheduled for a CAT scan, an MRI or an ultrasound. You may also be scheduled for an angiography.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the severity of your aneurysm. Your doctor may decide the best course of action is a medication called a thrombolytic agent that will help break up the clots that have formed. Surgical bypass and replacement are often needed to repair the site. In extreme instances, when the limb has suffered irreversible damage, you may be scheduled for an amputation.
Prevention
Although there are rare instances where an infection or an injury causes femoral artery aneurysms, in general they are caused by lifestyle factors. As you age, plaque naturally builds up in your blood vessels, which can cause an aneurysm. There are personal choices you make that can increase that risk. If you remove these actions from your everyday life you can help minimize the risk factors associated with femoral artery aneurysms. Smoking has many negative side effects, so if you quit smoking you will not only decrease your risk factors for an aneurysm, you will also improve other aspects of your health. Also, by changing your diet and exercising daily, you will help combat three other contributing factors: obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
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