How common are aortic aneurysms?

Aortic aneurysms have an incidence of 5-10 cases per 100,000 in the United States, and are more common in men over the age of 60. Though aortic aneurysms do not directly cause death, complications arising from an aneurysm – such as dissection or rupture – cause approximately 15,000 deaths annually.


Who is most likely to get an aortic aneurysm?

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are more common in men and among people age 65 and older. Abdominal aortic aneurysms are more common among white people than among black people. Abdominal aortic aneurysms are usually caused by atherosclerosis (hardened arteries), but infection or injury can also cause them.

Are aortic aneurysms rare?

The abdominal aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body and is usually around 2cm wide – roughly the width of a garden hose. However, it can swell to over 5.5cm – what doctors class as a large AAA. Large aneurysms are rare, but can be very serious.


What percentage of aortic aneurysms rupture?

The rupture rate of abdominal aortic aneurysms that measure less than 5 cm in diameter vary widely, from zero to 1 percent per year to as high as 6 percent per year.

Where are aortic aneurysms most common?

Aneurysms can develop anywhere along the aorta, but most aortic aneurysms occur in the part of the aorta that's in the belly area (abdomen). Several things can play a role in the development of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, including: Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).


Aortic aneurysms: What you need to know



Are there warning signs before an aortic aneurysm?

The most common symptom is general belly pain or discomfort, which may come and go or be constant. Other symptoms may include: Pain in the chest, belly (abdomen), lower back, or flank (over the kidneys). It may spread to the groin, buttocks, or legs.

Should I be worried about aortic aneurysm?

Most people with aortic aneurysms don't have symptoms unless a tear (dissection) or rupture occurs. An aortic dissection or aneurysm rupture is a medical emergency. Call 911 or your local emergency number for immediate help.

Are aortic aneurysms always fatal?

Although aneurysms contribute to more than 25,000 deaths in the United States each year, it's actually possible to live with and successfully treat an aortic aneurysm. Early detection is vital, however. Armed with the right information, you can help to prevent, detect and manage an aortic aneurysm.


How long can you have an aortic aneurysm before it ruptures?

The larger an aneurysm is, the greater the chances are that it will rupture. It is estimated that an abdominal aortic aneurysm that is over 5.5 cm in diameter will rupture within one year in about 3 to 6 out of 100 men. That's why surgery is often recommended.

What is the life expectancy of someone with an aortic aneurysm?

Five-year survival expectancy was 65% for intact AAA and 41% for ruptured AAA (P < . 001). Cardiovascular deaths unrelated to the AAA occurred in 35% and cancer-related deaths in 29% of deceased patients.

Can aortic aneurysms go away?

Over time, the aneurysm shrinks. In some patients, when stents are not possible, open surgery (requiring an incision in your chest) may be necessary to repair the aneurysm by placing an artificial blood vessel into the aorta to replace the aneurysm.


Can stress cause aortic aneurysm?

Background— Aneurysm expansion rate is an important indicator of the potential risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture. Stress within the AAA wall is also thought to be a trigger for its rupture.

What is the most fatal aneurysm?

The most common — and most dangerous — are in the brain or along the body's largest blood vessel, the aorta (see illustration). Because aneurysms are uncommon, doctors don't screen for them routinely.

What triggers aortic aneurysm?

What causes an aneurysm? Any condition that causes the walls of the arteries to weaken can lead to an aneurysm. Atherosclerosis (a build-up of plaque in the arteries), high blood pressure, and smoking increase your risk. Deep wounds, injuries, or infections can also cause blood vessels to bulge.


What lifestyle causes aneurysm?

Lifestyle habits

Cigarette smoking is one of the main factors that increases your risk for an aortic aneurysm, especially an abdominal aortic aneurysm. If you are a current smoker, an abdominal aortic aneurysm may grow more quickly and be more likely to burst.

What makes you high risk for aneurysm?

Additionally, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol puts one at risk of atherosclerosis (a blood vessel disease in which fats build up on the inside of artery walls), which can increase the risk of developing a fusiform aneurysm.

How often should you have an aortic aneurysm be checked?

Uncommonly, large thoracic aortic aneurysms may cause back or chest discomfort. Diagnosing requires a CT scan and regular CT scans every 6 months or one year to monitor for growth.


What not to do if you have an aortic aneurysm?

If you have a thoracic aortic aneurysm, your health care provider will likely tell you to avoid heavy lifting and some vigorous physical activities. Such activities can increase blood pressure, putting additional pressure on your aneurysm.

Can you fly with aortic aneurysm?

Air medical evacuation of a patient with either an AAA at risk of imminent rupture or status post recent rupture can be performed, assuming that local surgical care is not available and that transfer is taking the patient to a higher level of medical intervention.

How quickly does an aortic aneurysm grow?

“An aneurysm usually grows slowly, around 1–2mm per year. Once it reaches a certain size, the risk of it rupturing (bursting) becomes too high and surgery is needed to repair it.” An aneurysm is usually classed as large once it reaches 5.5cm.


Do aortic aneurysms run in families?

About 20 percent of people with thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection have a genetic predisposition to it, meaning it runs in the family. This type is known as familial thoracic aneurysm and dissection.

Can vitamin C shrink an aortic aneurysm?

Results: Vitamin C attenuated the development of AAA, decreasing maximal aortic diameter by 25.8% (P < 0.05) and preserving elastin lamellae (P < 0.05).

Can you fix an aortic aneurysm without surgery?

Patients seeking treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysms may now undergo a repair procedure that does not require a surgical incision.


At what size does an aortic aneurysm become a problem?

An aneurysm occurs when a portion of the aorta has enlarged to at least 1.5 times its normal size. Aortic aneurysms less than 4 centimeters in size have a low chance of bursting, but an aneurysm more than 5.5 centimeters in diameter has an increasing chance of rupturing in the next year.

Does an aortic aneurysm show up in blood work?

Blood test can improve diagnosis and monitoring of aortic aneurysms.
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