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Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

What does it mean to have an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)

This is balloon-like bulge in a mjor blood vessel, the aorta. The bulge forms at a weak place in the vessel wall. An AAA is dangerous because it can rupture. This is serious, and can be fatal.

An AAA is called a "silent" problem because it usually causes no symptoms. It's sometimes found by a healthcare provider during routine exams. More often, it's detected when tests are done for an underlying problem.

Anyone can have an AAA, but certain factors increase the risk that an AA will form or rupture. These include:

  • Smoking
  • Having high blood pressure
  • Having blood vessel disease in another part of the body
  • Being over age 55 if you're a man, or over age 65 if you're a woman.

Understanding AAA

Blood vessels are tubes taht carry blood throughout the body. Artieres cary oxygen rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. AAA occurs when a part of the largest artery in the body, the aorta, weakens and expands.

The problem starts when the lining of the aorta is damaged. Or, the aorta may become weakend to certain factors that run in families. The wekened artery stretches outward, expanding like a balloon. The resulting bulge is called an aneurysm. AS it expands, the artery wall becomes thinner and weakens even more. High blood pressure further strains the artery wall. I may become so thin that it ruptures. This is fatal if not treated right away.

Treatment Options

Treament depends on many factors. How big is the aneursym? Is it growing? If so how quickly? How is your overall health? Your doctor will help you decide which is the best treatment for you.

If your aneursym is small the doctor may suggest watchful waiting that includes regular monitoring and imaging tests to track your rupture risk, reducing your rupture risks by controlling bloodpressure, being alert for symptoms of rupture.

If you anerursym is large, or growing quickly, the risk that it will rupture may outwigh the risks of a procedure to repair the artery. If so, you will be advised to consider surgical repair.


Artery Repair Techniques:

Endovasular Repair
For this procedure, very small incisions are made in the groin. The graft is inserted into an artery through an incision and guided to the aneurysm. The procedure often has a short recovery, allowing a quick return to normal activities.

Preparation

  • Have tests as advised by surgeon
  • Tell your surgeon about any medications, herbs, or supplements that you take. Your surgeon may advis you to make certain changes before surgery.
  • Arange to take a week off work.
  • Pack a bag for a hospital stay of 1 -3 days
  • Don't eat or drink after midnight before the procedure.

Risks include: Injuries to the blood vessels used for access adn to other nearby blood vessels, a leak around or behind an endovascular graft, back pain or fever, blood clot on or in the graft, blood clots in the legs, kidney failure, conversion to open surgery, infection, injury to nearby structures, heart attack, stroke or death.

Open Surgery
With this method, a single large incision is made in the abdomen. The graft is then sewn into the artery above and below the aneurysm. Open surgery involves a longer recovery then an endovascular repair.

Preparation

  • Have tests as advised by your surgeon.
  • Stop taking asprin and ibuprofen as directed. Also mention any medications, herbs, or supplements you take. Your surgeon may advise you to stop taking some of them before surgery.
  • Arrange to take time off of work. Plan for a recovery to take 6 weeks or more.
  • Pack for a hospital stay of 7-10 days
  • Don't eat or drink after midnight before the procedure.

Risks include: Heart attack or other heart problems, pneumonia or other respiratory problems, kidney failure, blood clots in the legs, bleeding, infection at the incision site, injury to the blood supply of the colon or spinal cord, impaired sexual function in men, infection or blood clot at the graft, injury to the ureters, stroke, death.