Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Atherosclerosis can build up along the walls of the aorta in the abdomen as well as arteries in the arms and legs. Also, the walls of the aorta can begin to lose their elasticity and begin to thin and enlarge.

This causes an abdominal aortic aneurysm, known as AAA. An artery is considered to be aneurysmal when the diameter is equal to or exceeds 1.5 times the normal diameter. In most cases, it would be considered aneurysmal at 3.0 cm. An aneurysm may be followed by ultrasound until it becomes a size where the physician feels intervention is necessary.

At that point in time, the physician may recommend either surgery (which has a long recovery time) or an aortic endograft repair, which is an endovascular procedure putting in an endoluminal stent graft. This procedure is much less invasive (not requiring an open abdomen incision) and requires only a short hospital stay. Long term ultrasound follow-up is required on these endografts to ensure that they remain patent and any problems that could develop are caught in the early stages.

After an ultrasound is performed, your physician would discuss with you any treatment options that are required.