Article: The most common sign of a peripheral aneurysm is a lump in your neck, leg, arm, or groin. You may also experience cramps after exercise, leg or arm pain, numbness in your extremities, and sores on your hands and feet that won't heal. Your doctor will conduct one or more tests including an MRI, a CT scan, or an ultrasound to check for the aneurysm. Blood clots tend to form around peripheral aneurysms. In order to break these clots up and reduce risk of further complications, your doctor may suggest thrombolytic therapy. This process uses medication to break up the blood clot instead of a surgical procedure and makes the surgery a bit easier for you. This will not make the aneurysm go away. It will, however, reduce the risk of complications due to a blood clot. Like all other aneurysms, a peripheral aneurysm will only go away completely after surgery. Surgeries for peripheral aneurysms tend to be less invasive. The exact procedure your doctor will recommend depends on where your aneurysm is located and how advanced it is. Bypass surgery can be used to redirect blood flow around the aneurysm. The aneurysm is then tied off to prevent continued blood flow to the area. In some cases, stent grafting may be necessary to seal off the aneurysm.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
See your doctor if you experience any symptoms of a peripheral aneurysm. Ask about thrombolytic therapy for an unruptured aneurysm. Consider your surgical options for treatment.