Phone: 0884-2944466,7416622540

vascularsurgeonkakinada@gmail.con

1st floor, D.No: 21-1-10, Jawahar Street, Opp Shravani ENT Hospital, Kakinada-533001.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Surgery

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Surgery

When the wall of a blood vessel weakens, a balloon-like dilation called an aneurysm sometimes develops. This happens most often in the abdominal aorta, an essential blood vessel that supplies blood to your legs.

FAIRLY COMMON

Every year, 200,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

A ruptured AAA is the 15th leading cause of death in the country, and the 10th leading cause of death in men older than 55.

FAMILY HISTORY IS IMPORTANT

Aneurysms run in families. If a first-degree relative has had an AAA, you are 12 times more likely to develop an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Of patients in treatment to repair an AAA, 15–25% have a first-degree relative with the same type of aneurysm.

Symptoms

MAY BE ABSENTIn most cases, abdominal aortic aneurysms cause no symptoms and are found when you are being evaluated for another medical condition.

SUDDEN, SEVERE ABDOMINAL OR BACK PAINIf you have a family history of AAA and feel sudden, severe pain in your abdomen or back, seeks immediate care. These symptoms may signal that you have developed an AAA, possibly one in process of rupturing.

PAIN, DISCOLORED SKIN, SORES ON FEET AND TOES A small percentage of patients with AAA have these symptoms when plaque or blood clots from elsewhere in the body collect in the feet and toes.

Causes

Many factors contribute to AAA formation.

Some type of inflammation that causes a weakening of the wall of the aortic artery.

Men older than 60, smokers, Caucasians and anyone with a first-generation relative who has developed an AAA are at highest risk for an abdominal aortic aneurysm

Age (50+ for men, 60+ for women) and a history of atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, heart or peripheral vascular disease and tobacco use are all associated with AAA formation.

Other potential factors associated with AAA formation include tears in the arterial wall, infections, and congenital connective tissue disorders.

Diagnosis

YOU MAY NEED TO SEE A VASCULAR SURGEON.Most AAAs causes no symptoms and are found incidentally, during an evaluation for another medical condition. If you are affected, see a vascular surgeon.

IMAGING TESTS MAY BE NEEDEDAn abdominal ultrasound is painless, cost-effective, safe and the most frequently utilized test to screen for and measure the size of an AAA.

Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) will assess aneurysm size, location and the extent of impact. This study requires exposure to radiation and injection of an intravenous contrast agent. However, a CTA provides valuable anatomic information and can help your vascular surgeon determine the optimal type of repair.