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Medical Author:

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm facts
• What is an aneurysm?
• What is an aortic aneurysm?
• What is the thoracic and abdominal aorta?
• Where do aortic aneurysms tend to develop?
• What shape are most aortic aneurysms?
• What is inside an aortic aneurysm?
• Who is most likely to have an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
• What are risk factors of aortic aneurysms?
• What is the most common cause of aortic aneurysms?
• What are other causes of aortic aneurysms?
• What are the symptoms of an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
• How is an abdominal aortic aneurysm diagnosed clinically?
• What tests help in the diagnosis of an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
• What is the natural history of abdominal aortic aneurysm?
• What are the complications with an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
• How are abdominal aortic aneurysms repaired?
• What is done if an abdominal aortic aneurysm threatens to rupture?
• What is the medical management (nonsurgical management) of abdominal aortic aneurysm?
• Patient Comments: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm - Experience
• Patient Comments: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm - Symptoms
• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Index

Threatened rupture of abdominal aneurysms is a surgical emergency. Once an aneurysm ruptures, 50% of patients die before their reach the hospital. The longer it takes to get to the operating room, the higher the mortality.

Once an aneurysm is detected, the goal is to try to prevent it from enlarging. Life-long control of risk factors is a must and includes the following:

• Stopping cigarette smoking.
• Controlling high blood pressure: Beta blocker mediations may be used to control both blood pressure and to decrease the pressure within the aneurysm.
• Controlling blood cholesterol.
• Keeping diabetes under control.
• Routine monitoring of the size of the aneurysm:
• A normal aorta measures up to 1.7 cm in a male and 1.5 cm in a female.
• Aneurysms that are found incidentally or by accident that are less than 3.0 cm do not need to be re-evaluated or followed.
• Aneurysms measuring 3.0 to 4.0 cm should be rechecked by ultrasound every year to monitor for potential enlargement and dilation.
• Aneurysms measuring 4.0 to 4.5 cm should be monitored every 6 months by ultrasound.
• Aneurysms measuring greater than 4.5 cm should be evaluated by a surgeon for potential repair.

REFERENCE:

Svensjö, S., et al. "Low prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm among 65-year-old Swedish men indicates a change in the epidemiology of the disease." Circulation 124.10 (2011): 1118-1123.

Previous contributing author: Dennis Lee, MD