Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a bulging in the wall of the aorta, our biggest abdominal vessel. It is relatively common and affects more than 3 million people per year in USA. (Please See attached Picture)
As the bulge grows, the aortic wall becomes weak and thin. This in turn may lead to rupture with massive internal bleeding. A potentially fatal condition.
The risks of developing an AAA increases with age, usually affecting people above 50 years and is more common in men. Other risks include Smoking and High Blood pressure. Family history of AAA is a strong risk factor!
Most AAA’s are asymptomatic., which makes them dangerous. People don’t typically know that they have them until they rupture, hence AAA’s are called Silent Killers!. For that reason, Medical Guidelines in USA recommend checking for AAA’s on ALL patients with history of smoking above age of 59 1/2. CT scan or ultrasound are reliable modalities to diagnose and Follow up on aortic aneurysms.
Multiple treatment options are available for AAA’s depending on location, size and progression. It could be conservative in which life style modifications, medications and follow up are recommended. In other cases, intervention is warranted. Surgical repair could be done either traditional Open or Endovascularly ( Dr. Tamim). Nowadays, there have been multiple advancements in endografts and stents that allow us to Treat Most AAA’S using minimally invasive techniques. (Please see attached Pictures)
Patients typically are ambulatory fairly quickly and go home within 2 days after Endovascular AAA repair. Full resumption of routine activities is expected relatively quickly.
If you have an abdominal aortic aneurysm, please give us a Call. We are Here to Help!
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