Abdominal aortic aneurysm is an enlargement of a weak area of your aorta. This type of abdominal aortic disease affects the part of your aorta located in your abdomen.
At the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute our surgeons in the Division of Vascular Surgery are experts in treating abdominal aortic aneurysms using minimally invasive repair or replacement techniques depending on the severity of your condition. We take a team approach to quickly and accurately diagnose your condition and develop a treatment plan that's right for you.
Request an appointment online, call 1-855-UPMC-HVI (876-2484), or email us.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs when the large blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs becomes abnormally large or balloons outward.
Although this can happen to almost any artery in the body, it is most common in the abdominal aorta located below your chest and before the aorta branches into the iliac arteries.
Abdominal aortic aneurysms can develop in anyone and may also run in families. They are most often seen in men over 60.
Additional factors that increase your risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm include:
Injury and connective tissue diseases, such as Marfan syndrome, can also increase the risk.
Abdominal aortic aneurysms can have serious complications if they burst, or rupture.
The larger the aneurysm, the more likely it is to rupture and can result in life-threatening internal bleeding if not treated immediately.
For this reason, early diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysms and regular surveillance imaging are important to prevent serious complications such as rupture.
For an appointment with a UPMC vascular surgeon, complete an appointment request form or call 1-855-UPMC-HVI (876-2484).
Aneurysms develop slowly over many years.
Most people with abdominal aortic aneurysm do not feel symptoms.
When symptoms do occur, the signs of an abdominal aortic aneurysm can include:
A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm may cause a person to feel dizzy, weak, or to pass out. These types of symptoms can indicate a life-threatening situation and may require immediate medical care.
If you are at high risk of developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm, or if your doctor suspects one, you'll need to undergo a thorough physical exam where your doctor will perform a screening and assess the level of your condition.
Your doctor at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute will examine your abdomen and evaluate pulses in your legs.
He or she may also find:
Following your exam, your doctor may order additional tests and procedures to help confirm the aneurysm and determine the size of your aorta.
The care team at the Heart and Vascular Institute uses the following imaging tests to help diagnose abdominal aortic aneurysm:
Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to expect your test results and will call you when they're available.
For an appointment with a UPMC vascular surgeon, complete an appointment request form or call 1-855-UPMC-HVI (876-2484).
The main treatment goal for an aortic aneurysm is early diagnosis and prevention of rupture. Less than 40 percent of people survive a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.
The UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute offers a full range of state-of-the-art treatment strategies for abdominal aortic aneurysms, such as surgical repair or replacement of the aorta.
We create a customized treatment plan, which includes an assessment of:
Based on our findings, we may recommend one of the following treatment options:
UPMC’s highly skilled vascular surgeons — who are among the nation’s most experienced — routinely treat abdominal aortic aneurysms through:
Whether open or endovascular, surgeons will use a graft to replace the weakened part of your heart.
A graft is a tube that:
Depending on the location and shape of the abdominal aortic aneurysm, your vascular surgeon may consider an endovascular stent.
Endovascular stent grafting (EVAR) is a minimally invasive procedure that surgeons perform "inside the vein" using catheters.
During the procedure, your UPMC surgeon:
The stent graft expands outward and sits tightly against the wall of the aorta, relining the weakened portion of the aorta.
Most people recover quickly and can often go home the next day.
Approximately 80 percent of people with abdominal aortic aneurysm are candidates for this technique.
Of those who may not be candidates for a regular EVAR, UPMC participates in numerous advanced abdominal aortic aneurysm clinical trials and expands the indications for repair.
Many open aneurysm repairs are successful for the long term with few complications.
We advise surgery when:
Abdominal aortic aneurysms occur in the large blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs.
In open surgical aneurysm repair, your UPMC surgeon makes an incision to gain access to your abdomen. The surgeon then removes the damaged portion of the aorta, and replaces it with a fabric graft.
Hospital stay is usually 5 to 7 days.
Recovery time is 6 weeks to 3 months for a complete recovery, depending on your circumstances.
For an appointment with a UPMC vascular surgeon, complete an appointment request form or call 1-855-UPMC-HVI (876-2484).