What is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?
An abdominal aortic aneurysm affects the large artery called the aorta that carries oxygen-enriched blood from your heart. An aneurysm is an enlargement of the aorta that could potentially rupture, causing a life-threatening bleed.
Having an abdominal aortic aneurysm increases your risk of thrombosis, where a blood clot that breaks off from the aneurysm blocks a blood vessel in your leg or organs. These can be painful and lead to a potentially life-threatening embolism.
Learn MoreSome commonly asked questions about Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm are:
Abdominal aortic aneurysms can develop without you being aware of them. Unless the aneurysm expands and starts causing symptoms, you may never know you have one.
If your abdominal aortic aneurysm gets bigger, you might get symptoms such as:
- Constant abdominal pain
- Back pain
- Pulse near your belly button
If the aneurysm ruptures, the pain becomes much worse, like an intense tearing feeling. Your pulse becomes rapid, and your blood pressure drops, constituting a medical emergency.
Aneurysms usually develop because of:
- Atherosclerosis (hardened arteries)
- High blood pressure
- Blood vessel inflammation
- Infection in the aorta
- Trauma
You’re more likely to suffer an abdominal aortic aneurysm if you’re over 50, especially if you’re male, white, are a smoker, or have a family history of aneurysms.
If you aren’t experiencing any symptoms, you might only discover you have an abdominal aortic aneurysm during a routine physical exam or a test that you’re having for other reasons. If you are experiencing symptoms, the team at Tinsley Surgical can run diagnostic tests such as:
- Abdominal ultrasound
- CT scan
- MRI
If you’re a man over 50 years old, and you’re a smoker or used to smoke, you should arrange for a screening test with the team at Tinsley Surgical. They can also advise other patients whether they need to have a screening test for abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysms varies depending on the size of your aneurysm and whether it’s causing any symptoms. If it’s small and not causing any issues, you might need to attend regular checkups at Tinsley Surgical to monitor the aneurysm’s progress.
Surgery might be needed if your aneurysm is:
- Bigger than 5 centimeters (2 inches)
- Expanding quickly
- Leaking
- Causing pain
Where possible, the team at Tinsley Surgical uses less invasive endovascular aneurysm repair, which causes less tissue damage and promotes a quicker recovery. The procedure involves passing a thin tube called a catheter into a leg artery. The catheter transfers a synthetic graft called a covered stent mechanism into your aorta, where it reinforces the artery to prevent the aneurysm from rupturing.
If you’re concerned about symptoms of an abdominal aortic aneurysm or want to arrange a screening, call Tinsley Surgical today or book an appointment online.