An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a bulge in the aorta in the abdomen, caused by weakening or damage to the artery wall.
Risk factors for AAA include atherosclerosis, smoking, high blood pressure, and infection.
An AAA can rupture, which is life-threatening. Around 200,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with AAA annually, with 15,000 at risk of death if untreated.
Traditional treatment involves open surgery, requiring a lengthy recovery. Minimally invasive endovascular procedures, performed by surgeons at WashU Medicine, involve smaller incisions and shorter hospital stays. The majority of AAA repairs at Barnes-Jewish Hospital use a minimally invasive approach, with a highly favorable success rate.
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Symptoms
Major symptoms associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm are:
- Back pain caused by tension and sometimes accompanied by abdominal pain
- Pulsating feeling of throbbing in the stomach area
- Deep, constant pain in the belly area or side of the belly
A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm is a severe medical emergency that happens when a weakened blood vessel in the abdomen bursts.
Signs of a ruptured aneurysm may include:
- Severe pain in any of the above listed areas
- Major drop in blood pressure
- Signs of shock, including dizziness, cold clammy extremities and rapid heartrate
Heart & Vascular Center
Achieving excellence through patient care, research and education is the mission of the Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Heart and Vascular Center.
Our team of physicians and nurses are committed to improving heart and vascular health through their expertise, collaboration and compassion.
Diagnosis
During a physical exam to detect an aortic aneurysm, your health care provider may perform several basic steps. They may feel your abdominal area, listen to your heart for a murmur or changes in blood flow, and check the pulse in your arms and legs for any weakness. Additionally, they may look for signs of medical conditions that increase the risk of an aortic aneurysm, such as Marfan or Ehlers-Danlos syndromes.
Vascular surgeons at WashU Medicine
Who is at risk?
Men over 65 have a heightened risk of developing aneurysms.
The risk is higher for individuals who smoke, as well as people who have:
- High blood pressure
- Cardiovascular conditions
- High cholesterol
- Family history of aneurysms
Treatment options
- Open surgery: Traditional surgical repair of an aneurysm requires open surgery, in which a large incision is made from just below the breastbone to the top of the pubic bone. The aneurysm is opened, and a vascular graft is sewn in place.
- Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR): This is a minimally invasive procedure for repair that introduces a stent graft through a small incision in the groin. This method is used more often than the open surgery method. Once in place, the stent attaches to the aortic wall, sealing blood flow from entering the aneurysm.
World-class care, close to home
Vascular surgeons at WashU Medicine see patients at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, one of the top hospitals in the nation for heart and vascular care, as well as convenient locations across the region.
Recovery
Patients who undergo AAA repair at Barnes-Jewish Hospital with our physicians experience one of the highest survival rates in the country.
Open surgery requires patients to be hospitalized for about a week and to recuperate at home for four to six weeks.
Patients who receive minimally invasive treatment must stay in the hospital for observation for the following 48 hours, although healthier patients may be discharged sooner. Most patients may resume normal activities after only two weeks.