Abdominal aortic aneurysm
What is it?
It is a dilation of the abdominal aorta that is considered pathological when transverse diameter is one and a half as much as the normal one. The highest risk group is persons who have other pathologies, such as atherosclerosis and related risk factors (smoking, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and arterial hypertension), traumas, congenital diseases, aorta wall infections, aortic dissection (rupture of part of the vessel wall). In general, men are more at risk than women. People over 50 are also at high risk.
Which are the symptoms?
This is a prevalently asymptomatic disease. In certain cases lumbar or abdominal pain can occur, and, in the event of rupture, the pain is associated with a state of shock, thromboembolic manifestations, indigestion or constipation and pulsating abdominal masses.
- lower back pain
- abdominal pain
- thromboembolic manifestations
- digestive difficulties
- constipation
- pulsating abdominal mass
How is it diagnosed?
Patients with the described symptoms are at high risk of suspecting aneurysmal pathology of the abdominal aorta and should undergo imaging tests.
Suggested exams
How is it treated?
There are two types of treatment:
- surgical treatment: substitution of an aneurysmal aorta section by a synthetic prosthesis;
- endovascular treatment: percutaneous treatment used in separate cases. Access to the aneurysm is via a cut in the inguinal region through which prosthesis is introduced.
Where do we treat it?
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