Unexplained pain below your knee? It could be a sign of a femoral aneurysm. Femoral aneurysms can burst, which may cause life-threatening, uncontrolled bleeding. The aneurysm may also cause a blood clot. That could lead to a leg amputation.
A femoral aneurysm is a bulge and weakness in the wall of your femoral artery. It's found in your thigh. The experts at UVA Health can check you for aneurysms and work with you on the best treatment.
Femoral Aneurysms Treatment at UVA Health
We can check if you have a femoral aneurysm with these tests:
- Ultrasound
- Computed tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
- Angiography
Surgery is usually needed to treat femoral aneurysms. Your surgeon replaces the artery with a graft or creates a route around the aneurysm (bypass).
It's important for you to carefully control high blood pressure with medicine, if needed.
Causes of Femoral Aneurysms
We don't know the exact cause of femoral aneurysms. Atherosclerosis may play a key role. Injury to the artery may also cause a femoral aneurysm.
Are You at Risk for a Femoral Aneurysm?
You may be likely to get a femoral aneurysm if you:
- Have high cholesterol
- Have high blood pressure
- Smoke
- Have an infection
- Have had blood-vessel reconstruction in one or both legs
Many femoral aneurysms have no symptoms. The most common symptom is pain below the knee.