An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a blood-filled bulge or ballooning in a part of your aorta that runs through your abdomen. Over time, this bulge in your aorta can become weak, and the force of normal blood pressure can cause it to rupture. This can lead to severe pain and massive internal bleeding, or hemorrhage.
Smoking is the most common cause of an abdominal aortic aneurysm as well as many other health problems. Exercising daily can also be beneficial, as can lifestyle changes that help lower your blood pressure.
A ruptured aneurysm can cause massive internal bleeding, which is usually fatal. Around 8 out of 10 people with a rupture either die before they reach hospital or don't survive surgery. The most common symptom of a ruptured aortic aneurysm is sudden and severe pain in the abdomen.Oct 22, 2021
Pain is the most common symptom of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The pain associated with an abdominal aortic aneurysm may be located in the abdomen, chest, lower back, or groin area. The pain may be severe or dull. Sudden, severe pain in the back or abdomen may mean the aneurysm is about to rupture.
CausesHardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Atherosclerosis occurs when fat and other substances build up on the lining of a blood vessel.High blood pressure. High blood pressure can damage and weaken the aorta's walls.Blood vessel diseases. ... Infection in the aorta. ... Trauma.Aug 27, 2021
The most common location of arterial aneurysm formation is the abdominal aorta, specifically, the segment of the abdominal aorta below the kidneys. An abdominal aneurysm located below the kidneys is called an infrarenal aneurysm.
The abdominal aorta enters the abdomen through the diaphragm at the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebre and continues to just below the umbilical area, where it splits into the right and left common iliac arteries. The aorta supplies oxygenated blood to most of the body.May 7, 2020
An abdominal aortic ultrasound or abdominal aortic duplex is an exam that can help your interventional radiologist evaluate the aorta, which is the main blood vessel that supplies the body's organs. An ultrasound, sometimes called a sonogram, uses high-frequency sound waves to show the abdominal aorta.
Repair of an AAA may be done in one of two ways:Open repair. For this surgery, your doctor makes a large incision in the abdomen to expose the aorta. Once he or she has opened the abdomen, a graft can be used to repair the aneurysm. ... Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). This is a minimally invasive option.
Endovascular repair. This procedure is used most often to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm. A surgeon inserts a thin, flexible tube (catheter) through an artery in the leg and gently guides it to the aorta.Aug 27, 2021
Enlarged Aorta or Aortic Aneurysm Signs and SymptomsPain in the chest or upper back. The pain may be deep, aching, gnawing, and/or throbbing, and may last for hours or days. ... Shortness of breath, a raspy voice.Pain in the left shoulder or between the shoulder blades.Pain in the groin.
It's normal to feel your pulse in your stomach. What you're picking up on is your pulse in your abdominal aorta. The aorta is the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. It runs from your heart, down the center of your chest, and into your abdomen.Dec 11, 2020