Abdominal aortic aneurysm

Alternative names:

aneurysm - aortic

Definition:

An abnormal widening of the abdominal portion of the aorta (the major artery from the heart).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Abdominal aortic aneurysm involves a widening, stretching, or ballooning of the aorta. The exact cause is unknown, but risks include atherosclerosis and hypertension. Some causes of an abdominal aortic aneurysm are injury, infection, or congenital weakening of the connective tissue component of the artery wall.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm can affect anybody, but it is most often seen in men 40 to 70 years old. A common complication is ruptured aortic aneurysm. This is a medical emergency where the aneurysm breaks open, resulting in profuse bleeding. Ruptured aneurysm occurs in approximately 5 out of 10,000 people. Aortic dissectionoccurs when the lining of the artery tears and blood leaks into the wall of the artery. An aneurysm that dissects is at even greater risk of rupture.

In children, abdominal aortic aneurysm can result from blunt abdominal injury or from Marfan's syndrome.