Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a type of arterial aneurysm. Part of the abdominal aorta becomes swollen, increasing pressure on the wall of the aorta, making it weaker. Typically, the aorta widens to more than 50% of its normal width.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is also known as:

• AAA
• Triple A

Not everyone experiences symptoms of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is why this condition is often referred to as the "silent killer," because it may rupture before being diagnosed.

How an abdominal aortic aneurysm forms

As the largest artery in the body, the aorta is responsible for delivering oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The aorta is under constant pressure as blood flows from the heart. With each heartbeat, the walls of the aorta expand and spring back, exerting continual pressure or stress on the already weakened aortic wall.

A weakened aortic wall has a higher chance of bursting or separating from the pressure of blood flow. If the anuerysm bursts, this may cause life-threatening uncontrolled bleeding and, potentially, death. The larger the abdominal aortic aneurysm, the greater the risk of rupture.

Aneurysms usually take two different shapes:

• Fusiform shaped: Aneurysm bulges or balloons out on all sides of the aorta
• Saccular shaped: Aneurysm bulges or balloons out only on one side

Types of abdominal aortic aneurysms

There are several types of abdominal aortic aneurysms, characterized by its location, shape, and cause:

Infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm: Located in the part of the abdominal aorta below the kidneys.

Pseudoaneurysm, or false aneurysm: An enlargement of only the outer layer of the blood vessel wall. A false aneurysm may be caused by a prior surgery or trauma. Sometimes, a tear can occur on the inside layer of the vessel resulting in blood filling in between the layers of the blood vessel wall creating a pseudoaneurysm.