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Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Overview
Abdominal aortic aneurysm disease refers to a ballooning of the aorta in the stomach area. The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body; it carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. At times, the aorta can become weakened and start to enlarge. This usually occurs in the lower part of the aorta in the abdomen, below the kidney arteries.
Causes of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Most aneurysms are caused by atherosclerosis or a build up of cholesterol. There are many risk factors for atherosclerosis such as getting older, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, stress, and family history. In many arteries, atherosclerosis cause blockages, however in the aorta, it causes aneurysms.
Symptoms of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Most patients do not have symptoms. Occasional patients may notice abdominal or back discomfort if the aneurysm becomes large. If aneurysms are large, they may rupture or burst. This causes sudden pain in the stomach and severe loss of blood. This is a medical emergency as this is usually fatal.
Diagnostic Tests
Your doctor may suspect an aneurysm if he hears a whoosing sound when listening to your stomach with a stethoscope or feels an enlarged aorta when pressing on your stomach. Your doctor will a simple non-invasive test such as an ultrasound or CT scan to produce images of the aorta and measure the size of the aneurysm. He may also order a more invasive test such as an angiogram where a doctor inserts a catheter into the leg artery and injects dye into the aorta to help measure the size and look for associated blockages.
Treatment Options
Treatment depends on the size and shape of the aneurysm and associated problems or symptoms that you may have. Your doctor will prescribe medications to treat blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. He will also recommend diet, stopping smoking, and exercise. For patients with aneurysm < 5 cm in diameter, this may sufficient and your doctor will follow your aneurysm with periodic ultrasound exams. Patients with larger aneurysms (>5cm) may need more invasive treatments, such as a stent graft or surgery. The stent graft is a minimally invasive surgery where the doctor advances a fabric covered stent into the aneurysm to exclude the aneurysm. With surgery, the doctor replaces the aorta with an artificial tube.
Additional Information
www.cardiosmart.org
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