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The Curious Bag
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An abdominal aortic aneurysm is an abnormal expansion of the aorta (a very large blood vessel) in the abdomen. The Mayo Clinic reports that rupture is one of the most common complications of these aneurysms.
Identification
Symptoms of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm include sudden and severe pain in the abdomen, chest or back pain that may travel to the legs, sweating and clamminess, dizziness, low blood pressure, quickened pulse, shortness of breath and passing out, according to the Mayo Clinic. Seek emergency medical treatment if any of these symptoms appear.
Treatment
The only treatment option for a ruptured aortic aneurysm is quick surgical intervention to repair the rupture, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Warning
The chance of survival with a ruptured aortic aneurysm is lower than treatment before the aneurysm ruptures, and the Mayo Clinic reports that many people die before emergency surgery can be performed.
Prevention
If an aneurysm is more than two inches across, or if it is growing rapidly, the Mayo Clinic and Medline Plus report that doctors often recommend performing surgery, as these aneurysms are likely to dissect (split) or rupture.
Monitoring
The size of an aneurysm can be monitored with ultrasound testing to help make treatment decisions, according to Medline Plus.
Source:
Mayo Clinic: Aortic Aneurysm Complications
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