aortic aneurysm
05-10-2010
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is when the large blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs becomes abnormally large or balloons outward.
Causes
The exact cause is unknown, but risk factors for developing an aortic aneurysm include:
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Male gender
- Emphysema
- Genetic factors
- Obesity
.
Symptoms
Aneurysms develop slowly over many years and often have no symptoms. If an aneurysm expands rapidly, tears open (ruptured aneurysm), or blood leaks along the wall of the vessel (aortic dissection), symptoms may develop suddenly.
The symptoms of rupture include:
- Pain in the abdomen or back -- severe, sudden, persistent, or constant. The pain may radiate to the groin, buttocks, or legs.
- Clammy skin
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rapid heart rate
- Shock
Exams and Tests
Your doctor will examine your abdomen. The exam also will include an evaluation of pulses and sensation in your legs. The doctor may find:
- Abdominal mass
- Stiff or rigid abdomen
- Pulsating sensation in the abdomen
Either of these tests may be done when you're having symptoms.
Treatment
If you have bleeding inside your body from an aortic aneurysm, you will have open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
If the aneurysm is small and there are no symptoms:
- You and your doctor must decide whether the risk of having surgery is smaller than the risk of bleeding if you do not have surgery.
- Your doctor may recommend checking the size of the aneurysm with a yearly ultrasound test, to see if the aneurysm is getting bigger.
There are two approaches to surgery:
- In a traditional (open) repair, a large cut is made in your abdomen. The abnormal vessel is replaced with a graft made of man-made material, such as Dacron.
- The other approach is called endovascular stent grafting. This procedure can be done without making a large cut in your abdomen, so you may get well faster. Endovascular repair is rarely done for a leaking or bleeding aneurysm.
Outlook (Prognosis)
The outcome is usually good if an experienced surgeon repairs the aneurysm before it ruptures. However, less than 40% of patients survive a ruptured abdominal aneurysm.
Possible Complications
When an abdominal aortic aneurysm ruptures, it is a true medical emergency. Aortic dissection occurs when the innermost lining of the artery tears and blood leaks into the wall of the artery. This most commonly occurs in the aorta within the chest.
Complications include:
- Arterial embolism
- Heart attack
- Hypovolemic shock
- Kidney failure
- Stroke
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have pain in your belly or back that does not go away or is very bad.
Prevention
To reduce the risk of developing aneurysms:
- Eat a heart-healthy diet, exercise, stop smoking (if you smoke), and reduce stress to help lower your chances of having a blocked artery again.
- Your health care provider may give you medicine to help lower your cholesterol.
- If you were given medicines for blood pressure or diabetes, take them as your doctor has asked you to.
Alternative Names
Aneurysm - aortic; AAA
References
Gloviczki P, Ricotta JJ II. Aneurysmal vascular disease. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 65.
Greenhalgh RM, Powell JT. Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm. N Engl J Med. 2008;358:494-501.
Lederle FA, Kane RL, MacDonald R, Wilt TJ. Systematic review: repair of unruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.Ann Intern Med. 2007;146:735-741.
Isselbacher EM. Diseases of the aorta. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, mann DL, Zipes DP. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 56.
