Prognosis of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

An abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs in the main artery carrying blood from the heart to the body. It can grow large over the course of many years, often producing no symptoms until it bursts. A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm can happen quickly, cause severe pain and be life-threatening.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of an abdominal aortic aneurysm include sudden, severe pain in the stomach or lower back and a pulsing feeling in the abdomen. If the aneurysm bursts, symptoms may include dizziness and loss of consciousness.

Causes

• The causes of abdominal aortic aneurysm are unknown, but certain factors increase its risk, including atherosclerosis, being male and over the age of 60, high blood pressure, smoking and a family history of the disease.

Treatment

• Once diagnosed, small abdominal aortic aneurysms are monitored every six to 12 months. For aneurysms larger than 2 inches, treatment includes surgery to repair damaged blood vessels.

Procedures

• In open aneurysm repair surgery, the weakened part of the aorta is replaced with a plastic aortic graft. An endovascular stent graft is another surgical option in which the stent graft replaces the damaged area.

Prognosis

• Recovery from open aneurysm repair is typically three months, with more than 90 percent of patients recovering fully. Endovascular stent grafts have a shorter recovery but may not work for some aneurysm patients.