Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Overview
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) occurs when the large blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs becomes abnormally large or balloons outward.
Although this can happen to almost any artery in the body, it is most common in the abdominal aorta.
Complications of AAAs
The larger the aneurysm, the more likely it is to rupture, or break open.
Because the aorta is the body’s main supplier of blood, a ruptured aneurysm can cause:
- Bleeding, which can lead to shock or even death.
- Embolization, when a clot forms inside the aneurysm then travels to other organs in your body, which can cause severe pain and more serious complications, such as limb loss.
Risk factors for AAAs
Abdominal aortic aneurysms can develop in anyone and may also run in families.
They are most often seen in men over 60, with one or more of the following risk factors:
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Emphysema
- Obesity
About the Division of Vascular Surgery
At UPMC, abdominal aortic aneurysms are treated by experts in the Division of Vascular Surgery.
What distinguishes our program?
- Our surgeons — specialists in minimally invasive therapies for abdominal aortic aneurysms, which they helped pioneer for the entire vascular system.
- Our experience — our experts perform hundreds of procedures every year. UPMC also is a major referral center for patients with complicated conditions or who need additional operations.
- Our coordinated approach — our team of surgeons works closely with other specialists to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to treatment.
Diagnosing Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Aneurysms develop slowly over many years and often have no symptoms.
Symptoms of abdominal aortic aneurysms
Occasionally, aneurysms may be felt as a mass or lump in the abdomen that pulsates with each heart beat.
If an aneurysm expands rapidly and ruptures, symptoms may develop suddenly.
Symptoms include:
- Pain in the abdomen or back — severe, sudden, persistent, or constant — that may radiate to the groin and buttocks
- Clammy skin
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rapid heart rate
- Shock
Testing for abdominal aortic aneurysms
If you are at high risk of developing an AAA, or if your doctor suspects one, you'll need to undergo a thorough physical exam.
Your doctor will examine your abdomen and evaluate pulses in your legs.
The doctor may also find:
- An abdominal mass
- A stiff or rigid abdomen
- A pulsating sensation in the abdomen
Following your exam, your doctor may order additional tests and procedures to help confirm the aneurysm and determine the size of your aorta.
These tests may include:
Testing results
Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to expect your test results and will call you when they're available.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Treatment
UPMC offers a full range of state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment strategies for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).
The goal of treatment is to stop the aneurysm from bursting. Less than 40 percent of people survive a ruptured abdominal aneurysm.
| Small |
- Monitor with ultrasound
- Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol
|
| Bigger than 2 inches across; growing quickly |
- Surgery usually recommended to repair aorta before it ruptures
|
Our treatment experience
UPMC’s highly skilled vascular surgeons — who are among the nation’s most experienced — routinely treat AAAs through:
- Traditional (open) surgery
- Endovascular (minimally invasive, “stent graft”) procedures
- “Hybrid” procedures, combining open surgery and endovascular techniques
Learn more about heart and vascular treatments at UPMC.
Request an appointment today.