Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) – SP Medifort Hospital

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Treatment

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Treatment in Trivandrum

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a swelling in the aorta, the artery that carries blood from the heart to the abdomen (tummy). Most aneurysms don’t cause any problems, but they can be serious because there is a threat they could burst (rupture).

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?

If an Aneurysm (AAA) ruptures, the patient may experience below signs and symptoms

Elevated heart rate
Shock or unconsciousness
A pulsating feeling close to the navel
Pain spreading from the buttocks, legs, pelvis, and abdomen
Suddenly, intense pain (if rupture starts)

What Causes Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?

An abdominal aortic aneurysm may result from the following:

High blood pressure: The walls of the aorta can be weakened and damaged by high blood pressure.
Blood vessel disorders: Blood vessels swell and become inflamed as a result of these illnesses.
Aortic infection: An abdominal aortic aneurysm can infrequently result from bacterial infection of the aorta.
Smoke: Smoking weakens and destroys the abdominal aorta’s walls, increasing the risk of an aneurysm forming.
Trauma: An abdominal aortic aneurysm, for instance, may result after being hurt in an automobile accident.

Diagnosis of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Doctors will perform a physical examination and analyze the patient’s medical and family history to diagnose AAA. If advanced testing can confirm a doctor’s suspicion that a patient has an aortic aneurysm. These tests could consist of

Abdominal Ultrasound: An abdominal ultrasound helps doctors identify an abdominal aortic aneurysm by using sound waves to quickly and painlessly. Take photos of your abdomen to see whether your abdominal aorta is enlarged.
Computerized Tomography Scan: An abdominal aortic aneurysm can be detected by a CT scan, which uses computers and X-rays to create comprehensive images of your belly.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): In order to determine the size and structure of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, an MRI scan uses radio waves and magnets to create crisp, detailed images of your abdomen.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm risk factors

Risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysms include:

Use of tobacco: The biggest risk factor for aortic aneurysms is smoking. The walls of blood arteries, especially the aorta, are weakened by smoking. Aortic aneurysm and aneurysm rupture are more likely as a result. The risk of developing an aortic aneurysm increases with the duration and intensity of tobacco usage. To check for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, men between the ages of 65 and 75 who have ever smoked should have a single ultrasound.
Age: People 65 years of age and older are most likely to develop abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Sex: Abdominal aortic aneurysms are far more common in men than in women.
Being white: White people are more likely to have abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Family History: The presence of a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysms raises the risk for an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Other aneurysms: Having an aneurysm within the aorta in your chest or another large artery, as occurs with an aneurysm in the artery at the back of a knee, might make you more likely to get AA.

Treatment options available for abdominal aortic aneurysm

Monitoring: If the aneurysm is small and not producing any symptoms, doctors will keep a close eye on it using routine imaging tests, such as CT scans or ultrasounds, to observe if it changes or expands over time.

Surgery: Traditional open repair or a minimally invasive endovascular method (EVAR) to fortify the weak segment of the aorta may be required for larger or rapidly expanding aneurysms.

Lifestyle modifications: Making good lifestyle choices, such as giving up smoking, regulating blood pressure, eating a heart-healthy diet, and lowering cholesterol, can lower the risk of aneurysm formation and consequences.