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CorsoDelk567: Created page with '<h1> Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm</h1> <p>An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a dilation (ballooning) of segment of the aorta that is inside of the abdomen. An abdominal aortic aneu…'

<h1> Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm</h1>

<p>An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a dilation (ballooning) of segment of the aorta that is inside of the abdomen. An abdominal aortic aneurysm quite often leads to no symptoms unless it ruptures (bursts). A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm is quite often fatal. An [http://abdominalaneurysm.posterous.com/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm aneurisma abdominal] much less than 50 mm wide carries a below average probability of rupture. A surgery to fix the aneurysm can be recommended if it is larger sized than 50 mm, as earlier mentioned this dimension the probability of rupture grows. Individuals aged 65 and over are to be offered a program scan to screen for abdominal aortic aneurysm.</p>

<h2>What is the aorta?</h2><p>The aorta is the most significant artery (blood vessel) in the human body. It carries blood from the heart and descends through the chest and the abdomen. Many arteries come off the aorta to supply blood to all parts of the body. At about the level of the pelvis the aorta divides into two arteries, one going to each leg.</p>

<h2 >What is an aneurysm and an abdominal aortic aneurysm?</h2><p>An aneurysm is where a area of an artery widens (balloons out). The wall of an aneurysm is weaker than a natural artery wall. The pressure of the blood inside the artery leads to the weaker section of wall to balloon.<br /><br /><div style="text-align:center><img style="width:294px;height:270px;float:left;" src="http://www.abdominalaneurysm.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/AAA.gif" alt="Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm"/> <img style="width:310px;height:263px;" src="http://www.abdominalaneurysm.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm.gif" alt="Diagram showing the main arteries of the body and details of an aortic aneurysm"/></div><br /><br />Aneurysms can appear in any artery, but they most typically occur in the aorta. Most aortic aneurysms appear in the area of the aorta that goes through the abdomen. These are recognized as abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Frequently they occur in the section heading through the chest. These are known as thoracic aortic aneurysms.<br /><br />The typical dimension of the aorta in the abdomen is around 20 mm. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is said to be present if a area of the aorta within the abdomen is 30 mm or more in diameter.<br /><br />The rest of this leaflet is only about AAAs.<br /><br />AAAs differ in sizing. As a rule, as soon as you develop an AAA, it leads progressively to get greater. The rate at which it gets larger ranges from person to person. In spite of this, on average, an AAA leads to get larger by about 10% per year.</p>

<h2>What leads to an abdominal aortic aneurysm?</h2>
<h3>In the majority of cases</h3><p>The particular cause why an aneurysm figures in the aorta in most cases is not well-defined. Most cases occur in older people. An AAA is exceptional in people less than the age of 60. Therefore, ageing has a significant role to play.<br /><br />The wall of the aorta usually has levels of smooth muscle mass, and layers built from tissues termed elastin and collagen. Elastin and collagen are powerful assisting tissues. What seems to happen is that a part of the aorta loses its usual toughness and flexibility in some people as they become older. Scientific tests recommends that this is because of to changes in the elastin, collagen and smooth muscle tissues. There seem to be complicated biochemical processes that cause these changes. Some people are more susceptible than others to these changes.<br /><br />Your hereditary make-up performs a part, as you have a much higher chance of getting an AAA if one of your parents has, or had, one.<br /><br />Atheroma could as well play a part. Atheroma is a fatty substance that deposits within the inside of lining of arteries. Atheroma is from time to time termed furring of the arteries. Most AAAs are lined with some atheroma. Any person can develop atheroma, but it develops more typically with increasing age. Particular risk factors also improve the chance of atheroma forming. They include: tobacco use, high blood pressure, diabetes, raised cholesterol level, taking little exercise, and obesity. These are the same risk factors that enhance the probability of atheroma forming in the heart (coronary) arteries, which can cause angina and heart attacks.</p>
<h3>In a minority of cases</h3><p>Rare triggers of AAAs contain injury or infection of the aorta. Also, certain rare genetic conditions can influence the artery structure. In these uncommon situations an aneurysm may develop at a rather young age.</p>

<h2>How common are abdominal aortic aneurysms?</h2><p>About 6 in 100 men and about 2 in 100 women over the age of 65 have an AAA. It will become more typical with growing age. However, most people with an AAA are not careful that they have one. An AAA is uncommon in people under the age of 60.</p>

<h2>What is the concern about an abdominal aortic aneurysm?</h2><p>The main concern is that the aneurysm could rupture (burst). The wall of the aneurysm is weaker than a natural artery wall and may not be able to withstand the pressure of blood internally. If it ruptures then severe internal bleeding occurs which is often fatal. Of course, most AAAs do not rupture - only a certain proportion (see below).</p>

<h2>What are the indicators of an abdominal aortic aneurysm?</h2><p>Usually there are no symptoms. At the time of diagnosis, 7 in 10 people with an AAA will not have had any symptoms due to the aneurysm. The ballooning of the aneurysm does not trigger any symptoms except when it gets large sufficient to set up force on native structures. If symptoms do appear, they are most likely to be mild abdominal or backside painful sensations. There are many factors of mild abdominal and back pain. For this reason, the identification may be delayed except when the aneurysm is big enough to be felt by a doctor when he or she inspects your abdomen.<br /><br />Occasionally small blood clots form on the inside lining of an AAA. These may break up off and be taken down the aorta and block a smaller artery further on. These blood clots are called emboli and can be dangerous. For illustration, total blockage of an artery that supplies a foot may lead to reduction of blood to part of the foot, which can result in pain in the foot and gangrene if left without treatment.<br /><br />If the aneurysm does rupture then you are likely to have sudden severe abdominal and/or back pain. This is commonly soon followed by crease as the internal bleeding causes a sharp drop in blood pressure.</p>

<h2>The best way in which an abdominal aortic aneurysm is diagnosed?</h2><ul><li>Occasionally a medical professionsal senses the stick out of an aneurysm while in a routine exam of the abdomen. Even so, many AAAs are too small to medium sized to feel.</li><li>An X-ray of the abdomen (often carried out for other purposes) will indicate calcium mineral stores lining the wall of an AAA in some, but not almost all, scenarios.</li><li>An ultrasound scan is the easiest way to detect an AAA. This is a painless test out. It is the similar kind of capture that expecting a baby women have to look at the baby in the womb. The size of the aneurysm can also be measured by ultrasound. As discussed later, it is important to know the size.</li><li>A more detailed scan, such as a CT scan, is sometimes done. This may be accomplished if your medical expert demands to know whether the aneurysm is impacting on any of the arteries that come off the aorta. For instance, if the aneurysm entails the section of the aorta where the arteries to the kidneys branch off, specialists need to recognize this info if they prepare to operate.</li></ul>

<h2>What is the option of an abdominal aortic aneurysm rupturing?</h2><p>The chance of rupture is lower if an AAA is compact. As a rule, the risk of rupture increases with growing measurement. This is much like a balloon - the larger you blow it up, the greater the force, and the larger the probability it will burst. The size of an AAA can be assessed by an ultrasound diagnostic scan. The following gives general risk figures for the size (diameter) of the aneurysm:</p><ul><li>40 mm-55 mm: about a 1 in 100 chance of rupture per year.</li><li>55 mm-60 mm: about a 10 in 100 chance of rupture per year.</li><li>60 mm-69 mm: about a 15 in 100 chance of rupture per year.</li><li>70 mm-79 mm: about a 35 in 100 chance of rupture per year.</li><li>80 mm or more: about a 50 in 100 chance of rupture per year.</li></ul><p>As a rule, for any given size, the risk of rupture is improved in smokers, females, those with high blood pressure, and those with a relatives history of an AAA.</p>

<h2>Should really everybody with an abdominal aortic aneurysm have surgery?</h2><p>The brief answer is no. Operative restoration of an AAA is a significant treatment and provides threats. A small number of people will die throughout, or right after, the surgery. If you have a small AAA, the risk of loss of life generated by surgery is more significant than the risk of rupture. As a result, medical procedures is usually not advised if you have an AAA less than 50 mm broad. However, common ultrasound scanning will normally be recommended to see if it gets larger over time.<br /><br />Surgery is commonly proposed if you develop an AAA larger than 50 mm. For these larger aneurysms the chance of rupture is commonly higher than the risk of medical procedures. In spite of this, if your basic condition of health is weak, or if you have specific other medical related problems, this could improve the risk if you have medical procedures. So, in several scenarios the decision to operate may be a really difficult one.<br /><br />Urgent situation medical procedures is important if an AAA ruptures. On average, about 8 in 10 people who have a ruptured aortic aneurysm will die due to the immediate severe bleeding. However, urgent surgery is lifesaving in some conditions.</p>

<h2>What surgical procedures are executed?</h2><p>There are two types of surgery operation to restore an AAA.<br /><br />The regular procedure is to cut out the negative part of aorta and replace it by using an man made part of artery (a graft). This is a major procedure and, as mentioned, includes certain risk. Some people die during this operation. On the other hand, it is successful in most scenarios and the aneurysm is completely repaired. The long-term outlook is good. The graft normally works well for the rest of your life.<br /><br />A modern method lets the aorta to be restored by a method named endovascular repair. This has become a popular solution in latest years. In this method a tube is passed up from inside one of the leg arteries into the section of the aneurysm. This tube is then passed throughout the increased aneurysm and fixed to the good aorta wall applying metal clips. The benefit to this style of restoration is that there is no abdominal surgery. This technique is therefore more secure than the standard surgery, and you require to spend less time in clinic. A disadvantage is that some individuals have to undergo a further procedure at a later stage to refine the primary procedure.<br /><br />Surgery techniques continue to develop and improve. Your doctor will advise about the pros and disadvantages of surgery, the different types of procedure, and the best option for you.</p>

<h2>Other solutions may be important</h2><p>If you have an AAA, you are likely to have a substantial amount of atheroma that lines the artery. Therefore, you are at probability of having significant atheroma in other arteries, such as the coronary (heart) arteries and brain arteries. Therefore, you are likely to be at higher risk of developing heart disease (angina, heart attack, etc) and stroke.<br /><br />In fact, most people who develop an aortic AAA do not die of the aneurysm but die from additional vascular conditions, such as a heart attack or stroke.<br /><br />Therefore, you should think of doing what you can to reduce the danger of these conditions by other suggests. For illustration:</p><ul><li>Eat a healthy diet which contains keeping a low salt intake.</li><li>If you are able, exercise regularly.</li><li>Lose weight if you are over weight.</li><li>Do not smoke.</li><li>If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.</li><li>If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or a high cholesterol level, they should be well controlled on treatment.</li><li>You may be prescribed a statin drug to lower your cholesterol level and low-dose aspirin to help prevent blood clots from forming.</li></ul><p>See separate leaflet called <i>'Preventing Cardiovascular Diseases'</i> for more details.</p>

<h2>Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm</h2><p>Research studies propose that a routine ultrasound check is worthwhile for all men aged 65. This is because most people with an AAA do not have symptoms. Following a routine scan, surgical procedure can be provided to men found to have an aneurysm over 50 mm wide. Follow-up scans can be supplied to monitor those with smaller aneurysms.<br /><br />In early 2008, the governing administration introduced that over the subsequent five years ultrasound screening would be rolled out to enable all men in England aged 65 and over to be screened. Screening is likely to begin in Scotland in 2011. Wales and Northern Ireland have yet to announce their plans. Screening for AAA is offered only to men, as the condition is much more typical in men than in women. One research published in 2009 determined that if all men in their 60s and 70s were screened in England then this could save nearly 2,000 lives a year. However, there are some people who have concerns about screening for AAA; for example, see the paper by Johnson cited under 'References', below.</p>

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