Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a weakness in the wall of the aorta, the main artery of the body, causing the aorta to balloon out as the pressure from the passing blood flow presses against it. Aneurysms form due to weakness in the wall of the artery, high blood pressure or a combination of the two. As an aortic aneurysm enlarges, it may rupture and cause life-threatening internal bleeding. A pulsating area in the abdomen may be due to an aortic aneurysm. Surgical treatment often is required to treat large and growing aneurysms.

AAAs are the 17^th leading cause of death in the United States and take the lives of 15,000 Americans each year. Over the last three decades, incidence has tripled. The disease most often affects white males over age 55. Because people with the condition are usually asymptomatic, it is estimated that only 200,000 of the 1.5 million people currently living with an AAA are actually diagnosed. Approximately 40% of patients with ruptured AAAs die prior to presentation to the emergency department, and only 10% to 25% of individuals with ruptured AAAs survive until hospital discharge.

AAA Risk Factors

Major abdominal aortic aneurysm risk factors include:

• Being a current of former smoker
• Family history of AAA
• Over age of 60
• AAAs are four times more common in men
• Hypertension
• Atherosclerosis
• CAD

AAA Symptoms

AAA often is called the silent killer because there are no obvious symptoms of the disease. As many as 3 out of 4 aneurysms show no symptoms at the time they are diagnosed. Possible symptoms may include the following.

• Abdominal pain
• Pain in the lower back that may extend to the buttocks, groin or legs
• Pulsating sensation in the abdomen

Symptoms indicating a rupture include the following:

• Sudden onset of severe back or abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Dizziness, fainting and/or sudden weakness

AAA Treatment

There are several tests you may encounter including physicial exam, palpation and auscultation; abdominal ultrasound; computed tomography arteriography; and arteriogram. Once detected, it is important to control hypertension. Monitoring with regular CT scans or ultrasound and management of the aneurysm may take place for those that are not rapidly expanding or causing symptoms.

In the past, patients had no other choice except open abdominal surgery for aneurysms at risk of rupturing. Patients have 2 options for treating their aneurysm: open surgical repair or endovascular repair with a stent graft. UT Medical Center offers a minimally invasive treatment option for abdominal aortic aneurysm, which, compared to major surgery--

• Reduces the rate of complications
• Decreases the length of hospital stay
• Speeds time to recovery

Visit the Aortic Center for more information. More information on aortic aneurysms.