They usually cause no symptoms except when ruptured. Occasionally, there may be abdominal, back, or leg pain.
They are most commonly located in the abdominal aorta, but can also be located in the thoracic aorta. Aortic aneurysms cause weakness in the wall of the aorta and increase the risk of aortic rupture. When rupture occurs, massive internal bleeding results and, unless treated immediately, shock and death can occur.
Most aneurysms are undetected and do not lead to serious events; however, over 9,800 deaths were a direct result of aortic aneurysms in the U.S. in 2014, according to evidence reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Symptoms:
- Pain in the chest, abdomen or lower back
- Abdominal discomfort, pain
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Risk factors:
- Smoking
- Hypertension
- Poor Diet
- Obesity
- Lack of exercise
An aortic aneurysm, whether abdominal or thoracic, may not need any active treatment and instead may just be monitored regularly. Medications and preventive measures may be all that is needed. Sometimes surgical treatment is needed to remove an aneurysm.
Aneurysms that rupture require emergency surgery. Without immediate repair, a ruptured aneurysm is always fatal in the thoracic aorta, and almost always fatal in the abdominal aorta.
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