07/04/2015
What is Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) ?
It is a localized enlargement of the abdominal aorta such that the diameter is greater than 3 cm or more than 50% larger than normal. They usually cause no symptoms except when ruptured.Occasionally there may be abdominal, back or leg pain.Large aneurysms can sometimes be felt by pushing on the abdomen.Rupture may result in pain in the abdomen or back, low blood pressure or a brief loss of consciousness.
AAAs occur most commonly in those over 50 years old, in men, and among those with a family history. Additional risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, and other heart or blood vessel diseases.