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Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Treatment
Treatment for an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
As an aneurysm grows in size, the wall of the aorta becomes weaker and weaker, which means surgical intervention may be needed. The goal of any treatment strategy is to preventing the rupture of an aneurysm by controlling the growth of the aneurysm.
Specific treatment is based on:
- Your age, overall health, and medical history
- Extent of the disease
- Your signs and symptoms
- Your tolerance of specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- Expectations for the course of the disease
- Your opinion or preference
Non-surgical treatment options for AAA
Controlling or modifying risk factors:
- Quitting smoking
- Controlling blood sugar if diabetic
- Losing weight if overweight or obese
- Controlling dietary fat intake
Medication: To control factors such as hyperlipidemia (elevated levels of fats in the blood) and/or high blood pressure
Surgical treatment options for AAA
Asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms: May not require surgical intervention until they reach a certain size or grow in size over a certain period of time. Guidelines for surgical intervention include:
- Aneurysm size > 5 cm (about 2 inches)
- Aneurysm growth rate 0.5 cm (slightly less than 1/4 inch) over a period of six months to one year
- Patient's ability to tolerate the procedure
Symptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms: Immediate intervention is needed
TYPES OF SURGICAL TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR AAA
Condition Spotlight
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.