Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm What is an Aortic Aneurysm? An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) occurs when the wall of the aorta, the main artery in the chest and abdomen, progressively weakens and balloons outward. This causes a dilation of the vessel. Sometimes the iliac artery may also be affected. The aneurysm will grow larger and eventually rupture if not diagnosed and treated. What causes an Aortic Aneurysm? Most aneurysms are caused by a breakdown in the proteins providing structural strength to the wall of the aorta. While these proteins can gradually deteriorate with age, some conditions accelerate the process, including atherosclerosis, an excess of certain enzymes and in rare cases, infection.

At what point does an aneurysm require treatment?
Most doctors agree that, for someone in good health, an AAA larger than five centimeters in diameter (about the size of a lemon) needs treatment. Smaller aneurysms may also need treatment if they cause symptoms like back of abdominal pain, if tests show the aneurysm has rapidly grown.

How is AAA diagnosed?
Most are diagnosed using an ultrasound or CAT scan. These simple, non-invasive exams can be done on an outpatient basis and can even determine how big the AAA is, which is key to determining the need for treatment.

How effective are AAA treatments?
When diagnosed early, treatment is safe and effective, and the aneurysm is cured.

What treatment is available?
Surgery is usually required, but modern, catheter-based technologies using endovascular grafts have made treatment less invasive in many cases.