Aneurysms may develop in any blood vessel, but most commonly involve the aorta.
The aorta is the main blood vessel coming from the heart that supplies blood to all organs
of the abdomen. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a bulge or dilation in the aorta,
most commonly involving the infrarenal segment (below the renal arteries). The normal infrarenal
aorta measures 2.3 cm in diameter (1 inch) in men and 1.9 cm in diameter (3/4 inch) in women, but varies with
age and body size. An aneurysm by definition is twice (2x) the normal
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caliber size
of the specific artery. Ectasia on the other hand, is abnormal dilation of a blood vessel greater than the normal caliber but
less than twice the normal size. Aneurysms are four times (4x) more common in men than women and occur most often after
55-60 years of age.
Aneurysms may continue to silently grow larger until, like a balloon, they begins to leak leading to acute "rupture". Aneurysm
rupture is often life threatening leading to death. Aneurysm rupture affects approximately 15,000 people per year, making it the 13th
leading cause of death in the US. The incidence of abdominal aortic disease is increasing as the general population ages.
Early detection and
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diagnosis are the key to successful repair. The goal of all aneurysm operations is to prevent
aortic rupture and possible death.
Aneurysms are caused by a weakening or damage in the wall of a blood vessel. The weak wall stretches outward, expanding
like a balloon. Various factors have been shown to contribute to aneurysm formation including: artheriosclerosis
(hardening of the arteries), cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, infection and heredity. Three our of four (75%) aneurysms
show no symptoms at the time of diagnosis. However, rapid expansion or leakage (acute rupture) of an AA can cause severe
back or abdominal pain followed by signs of shock such as dizziness, fainting, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and sudden weakness leading to collapse and eventual
death if left untreated.
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| Special Points of Interest |
- AAA are four times more common in men than women
- 75% of aneurysms show no symptoms at the time of diagnosis.
- 13th leading cause of death in the U.S.
- AAA can most often be found during a routine physical examination.
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