What are the symptoms of an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?

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What are the symptoms of an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?

Mr Bicknell explains that most abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) have no symptoms at all. If they grow undetected, they can burst (rupture) and cause symptoms all of a sudden. They can also become symptomatic if they grow quickly which can lead to earlier detection. However, most are detected on scans for other reasons or in the aneurysm screening program for men over 65 years old.

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Can we stop an aneurysm from growing?

Mr Bicknell explains that aneurysms usually grow very slowly if they are small, but more quickly if they are larger. Unfortunately, there are no drugs that have been shown to slow the rate of growth. The only advice we can give is to give up smoking if you do smoke.

Open repair for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Mr Bicknell explains that open surgery is one of the main treatment options for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). He explains the steps of the procedure, which involves a large cut in the abdomen. When the aorta is exposed, it is clamped above and below the aneurysm. The aneurysm is then opened up and a fabric tube is sown in. It is a major operation which requires a short stay in high dependency or intensive care unit, around 7-10 days in hospital, and a few weeks or months to recover. The short-term complications are higher than the endovascular (keyhole approach). But the main advantage is that the repair is usually more long lasting.

What is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?

Mr Bicknell explains that an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a swelling of the aorta, which is the main blood vessel that comes out of the heart. This swelling can increase over time, increasing the chance of a rupture (burst).