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What is it?
Aneurysms arising from a weakening of the arterial wall, or a solicitation of an abnormal segment of the wall, or a combination of these factors. Any change in the arterial wall either congenital or acquired, causing weakening or compromising the strength of the arterial wall may be the causative agent of aneurysm formation in an artery.

Atherosclerosis is the most frequent cause of arterial aneurysms. The evolution of the plaque for stenotic lesion (a lesion that closes the vessel lumen) is well defined, but the evolution to aneurysm is not clear.

What do you feel?

The abdominal aortic aneurysm can often be asymptomatic, being seen during a clinical examination or by examination to investigate other disease. The patient may refer to a pulse in the abdomen, palpation perceives a pulsatile mass. Can the patient reported an ill-defined abdominal discomfort.

In the presence of abdominal pain of acute onset and high intensity is possible that the aneurysm is in the process of rupture. In the process of rupture of the aneurysm patients report abdominal pain and may have severe hypotension.

How is it diagnosed?

Typically the abdominal aortic aneurysm is detected by routine clinical examination when they have around five inches in diameter. The simple X-ray of the abdomen in profile may show calcification of the aneurysmal wall, delineating the aneurysm at its limits.

Abdominal ultrasonography, because of its safety, low cost and solution, has been the method most used for diagnosis. Ultrasound is used to follow-up of aneurysms, in those cases not operated.

The CT images provides more accurate than ultrasonography, giving more complete information on the limits, size and location of the aneurysm.

Aortography (arteriography) can also be used, but it is not necessary to examine all cases of aneurysm. In some cases an exam is required for scheduling the surgery. However it serves as a routine examination, may fail in the delineation of the aneurysm and even the diagnosis.

Magnetic resonance imaging provides a great image for the diagnosis of aneurysm, but is an expensive test this in a few medical centers.

How is it?

The abdominal aortic aneurysms, when not operated, can present complications such as acute thrombosis, arterial embolism, corrosion of the vertebral body and compression of neighboring structures. However, the most frequent complication and is feared aneurysms rupture. Because basically the rupture, is indicated aneurysm surgery. Aneurysms in the process of rupture or rapid expansion, are symptomatic and have surgical indication indisputable.

Aneurysms are asymptomatic elective surgical indication and meet certain criteria, such as the risk of rupture, risk of surgery and life expectancy of the patient. The risk of rupture is basically related to the diameter of the aneurysm. Aneurysms with larger dimensions have a higher risk of rupture.

The surgery consists of removing the aneurysm with restoration of arterial flow with use of a prosthesis (conventional surgery). When using the endovascular graft is placed inside the aneurysm, excluding it.