ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURSYMS Occur in about 5-7% of people over the age of 60 in the USA. An aneursym is defined a permanant localized dilatation of an artery with an increase in diameter more than one and a half times greater than the normal diameter. Abdominal aortic aneursyms may be manifested by catastrophic rupture, signs of pressure on other viscera or an embolism originating in the aneursymal wall, but most cases are asymptomatic. The diagnosis is often made by examination of the abdomen which reveals a pulsatile mass left of the midline. The diagnosis may then be confirmed by ultrasound. Ultrasound screenings should be considered by persons at risk for abdominal aortic aneursym. This group includes persons over age 60 who smoke, have hypertension or vascular disease. Electical surgical intervention is indicated for those patients who have abdominal aortic anuersyms greater than 5cm in diameter to prevent rupture and death. Smaller aneursyms should be monitered by regular Ultrasound measurments.
Screening and identification of abdominal aortic aneursyms can have significant impact on patient survival!!
Aproximately 75% of abdominal aortic anuersyms are asymptomatic and are detected under unrelated radiological or surgical procedure.
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