What is an Aneurysm?

An aneurysm is a swelling or ‘ballooning out’ of the artery wall. Arterial walls can become weak with advanced age, which allows the swelling. Aneurysms are commonly found on the aorta in the abdomen, but may  be found on any artery. Aside from advanced age (over 55), the main risk factors for getting an aneurysm are being male, smoking, high blood pressure and family history.

Symptoms

Most aneurysms do not cause symptoms and are actually discovered during tests for other medical conditions. 7 out of 10 patients with an abdominal aneurysm will not have any symptoms at time of diagnosis.

Sometimes aneurysms in the abdomen may cause symptoms like:

• A pulsing sensation in the abdomen
• Discomfort after eating
• Aching in the abdomen or back

Treatment Options

Not all aneurysms require immediate treatment. I will consider the location and size of the aneurysm, and any other medical conditions you may have before making a plan. Sometimes, I may decide to monitor it over time especially if it is a small one.

Common treatment options are endovascular stents (minimally invasive surgery) or open surgery.