Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
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Introduction to abdominal aortic aneurysm
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is abbreviated AAA. The aorta is actually the largest blood vessel in the body. It is responsible for carrying blood from the heart to the head and then to the arms and down to the abdomen, legs, and pelvis in that order. The aorta’s wall can bulge out when they become weak. This is called an aortic aneurysm. But when this occurs in the abdominal region, it is called an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). It is especially serious because of the size of the aorta. When it bursts, it is even more serious. This is when medical attention will be most needed.
Causes of an abdominal aortic aneurysm
The cause of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is currently unknown. However, some factors can increase your risk of having this condition. These include:
- Smoking: Smoking damages the wall of the artery. This makes the artery more likely to bulge. It also increases a person’s risk of high blood pressure.
- High blood pressure: Blood pressure means the the level of pressure that blood exerts on the walls of your artery. It is important to note that high blood pressure weakens the walls of the aorta. This can increase the risk of an aneurysm.
- Vascular inflammation: This is also known as vasculitis. Severe inflammation within the aorta can cause occasional aneurysms. However, this occurence is rare. It is important to note that aneurysms can form in any blood vessel within the body. However, abdominal aortic aneurysms are considered serious because of the size of the aorta.
Who is at risk for an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Those more likely at risk of developing AAAs are; belonging to the male gender, an obese or overweight person, people more than 60 years old, people with a family history of heart conditions and diseases, people suffering from high blood pressure, especially if they are from 35 -60 years old, those living a sedentary life, tobacco products smokers, abdominal trauma patients, atherosclerotic patients, etc.
Symptoms of abdominal aortic aneurysm
Most aneurysms have been found to be without symptoms unless they rupture. The following symptoms can be experienced in the absence of a rupture; clammy or sweaty skin, pains that spread from the abdomen or back to the pelvis, legs, or buttocks; sudden abdominal pain or back pains, increased heart rate, loss of consciousness (shock).
Diagnosing abdominal aortic aneurysm
An abdominal aortic aneurysm that has not yet ruptured may be diagnosed during scanning or examination of your abdomen.
If your healthcare provider suspects that you have an aneurysm, they will feel your stomach to determine whether it contains a pulsing mass or whether it is rigid. They may also check the flow of blood in your legs or perform any of the following tests:
- abdominal MRI
- chest X-ray
- abdominal ultrasound
- abdominal CT scan
Treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm
Treatment is based on the location, size of an aneurysm, and your state of health. Surgery can be carried out by your doctor to either repair or remove the damaged tissue as the need may be. There are two ways to go about it – open abdominal surgery or endovascular surgery.
- Open abdominal surgery is a highly invasive procedure that involves getting rid of damaged areas of the aorta. It is usually undertaken when an aneurysm is large and or has been ruptured. It can take up to 6 weeks for you to recuperate.
- Endovascular surgery is not as invasive as open abdominal surgery. In this procedure, a graft is used to stabilize the aortic walls that are already weakened. Recovery time for endovascular surgery is shorter than that of open abdominal surgery. It takes about two weeks.
For very small aneurysms (less than 5.5cm), your doctor may just choose to closely monitor it. This kind of aneurysm does not rupture and does not need surgery
The long-term outlook
The success of surgery and well as its recovery depends on whether or not the aortic aneurysm is detected before it bursts. Prognosis is good if it is detected before it bursts.
How can you prevent an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Watching and taking your lifestyle seriously is important if AAA must be prevented. You can do this by watching what you eat, how and when you exercise, avoiding smoking, and indeed anything that can predispose you to develop cardiovascular disease. Depending on the state of your health, your doctor may also recommend drugs manage hypertension, cholesterol, or diabetes.
If you are above 65 years of age, you should go for an abdominal ultrasound to assess the integrity of your abdominal aorta. This will help you be on a safer side as early detection can save you the consequences of late diagnosis.
Tonika Bruce, MSN, RN, MBA. is an accomplished nurse leader, published author, and personal development expert passionate about advancing healthcare management and quality patient outcomes.
She taps into the years of experience in healthcare management to produce credible and easy-to-understand health and leadership content. Her exceptional work has been featured in reputable publications, including Forbes, Recruiter, Inc, and the Color of Wellness magazine.