Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

A thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a potentially life-threatening enlargement of the aorta — the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. When an aneurysm develops in the chest (thoracic) region, it may go unnoticed until it causes complications such as stroke, aortic dissection, or neurological injury.

At The Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital, we provide specialist inpatient neurorehabilitation for patients recovering from brain injury, stroke, or spinal complications linked to thoracic aortic aneurysms or their treatment.

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What Is a Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm?

A thoracic aortic aneurysm occurs when the wall of the aorta becomes weakened and begins to bulge. This condition may remain silent for years, but as the aneurysm grows, the risk of rupture or dissection increases — both of which can cause reduced blood flow to the brain and lead to stroke-like symptoms or permanent neurological damage.

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Risk Factors

Several medical conditions and lifestyle factors increase the risk of developing a TAA:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
• Connective tissue disorders (e.g. Marfan syndrome)
• Family history of aneurysm or dissection
• Previous chest trauma or heart surgery
• Smoking history
• Advancing age

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Stroke Risk & Neurological Complications

While aneurysms are vascular in origin, they can have significant neurological consequences, especially when they:

• Dissect and reduce blood flow to the brain
• Rupture, causing widespread blood loss and hypoxic injury
• Cause embolic stroke, when debris or clots travel to cerebral arteries
• Compress nearby nerves or spinal cord structures in large aneurysms

In some cases, the first signs of a thoracic aortic aneurysm may be sudden neurological symptoms, such as:

• Weakness on one side of the body
• Sudden loss of vision
• Difficulty speaking
• Loss of consciousness
• Stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

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Rehabilitation After Aneurysm-Related Stroke

At The Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital, we support adults recovering from:

• Ischaemic stroke linked to aneurysm dissection or embolism
• Hypoxic brain injury following rupture and emergency surgery
• Spinal cord infarction or neurological deficits after vascular compromise
• Post-operative neurological decline after aneurysm repair

Our inpatient neurorehabilitation programmes include:

• Neurophysiotherapy for mobility, strength and balance
• Occupational therapy for cognitive and functional independence
• Speech and language therapy (where required)
• Neuropsychology for memory, mood and adjustment support
• Fatigue and energy management
• Spasticity management and discharge planning

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