As the major blood vessel, the aorta transports blood from your heart down through your chest and into your abdominal area. Your aorta has numerous branches that carry blood to your major organs and other body parts. It divides around your abdominal area into your leg arteries.
An aneurysm refers to the dilation or ballooning of an artery. As a result, the walls of the artery expand or stretch and weaken. An aneurysm can affect any artery in your body.
However, aneurysms most commonly occur in your abdominal area and are thus referred to as abdominal aortic aneurysms. A normal healthy aorta measures between 1.5 and 2.5 cm in diameter. An abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs when this section of your aorta measures 3cm (or more) in diameter, or over 50% larger than normal.
What Causes an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?
The exact cause of abdominal aortic aneurysms is unclear. However, there are several well-documented risk factors. These risk factors include:
- Smoking – Most people who develop abdominal aortic aneurysms have smoked tobacco at a point in their lives.
- High blood pressure – The effects of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases such as abdominal edema are considered long-term causes of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
- Alcohol consumption – The inflammation resulting from excessive and prolonged alcohol use is associated with aortic aneurysms.
- Genetic factors – Abdominal aortic aneurysms are more common among the older (over 50 years old) males of families with a history of the condition.
Other potential causes of abdominal aortic aneurysms include trauma, infection, cystic medial necrosis, and arteritis.
Signs and Symptoms
The vast majority of aneurysms present no symptoms, except during rupture. This is one of the reasons why screening is important for high-risk individuals. Washington Vascular Specialists provides comprehensive screening services that can help diagnose aortic aneurysms early. However, an abdominal aortic aneurysm can cause pulsating sensations or pain in your abdominal, lower back, or legs.
You can sometimes feel large aneurysms when you push against your abdomen. The symptoms of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm include severe abdominal, flank, lower back pain and groin pain, low blood pressure, and sometimes loss of consciousness. Contact Washington Vascular Specialists immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.
Diagnosis
Most aneurysms are detected coincidentally during routine doctor examinations or scans for other medical reasons. There are multiple tests that Washington Vascular Specialists conduct to detect an abdominal aortic aneurysm. These tests may include:
- Physical examination
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Computerized tomography(CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) scan
- Angiography
Management and Treatment
Surgical repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is recommended when the diameter of the aneurysm exceeds 5.5cm for men and 5cm for women. If the aneurysm is below 5 cm, a specialist may recommend medical monitoring and management of medical conditions like hypertension and high blood cholesterol that may worsen the aneurysm.
Preventive measures include lifestyle changes like smoking cessation, and physical exercise will also be recommended. There are two main surgical options for treating abdominal aortic aneurysms including:
- Open Surgical Repair – Involves making an incision on your abdomen to access the aneurysm. The surgeon removes the damaged aorta sections and replaces them with a synthetic graft.
- Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) – Is a less invasive alternative to open surgical repair. There are three types of EVAR surgeries including Standard, Percutaneous (PEVAR), and Fenestrated (FEVAR) endovascular repair. All three procedures involve supporting the damaged sections of the aorta with a synthetic graft.
Conclusion:
Overall, an abdominal aortic aneurysm is a serious medical condition that can be life-threatening in the event of a rupture. This condition is asymptomatic and thus periodic screening if you are a high-risk individual is crucial. If this is the case or you experience any associated symptoms mentioned herein, do not hesitate to contact Washington Vascular Specialists for early diagnosis, management, and treatment.