Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

An unruptured AAA

Causes:
95% cases due to atherosclerosis in United States. Mycotic abdominal aortic aneurysm is caused by bacterial infection, most commonly Salmonella

Pathogenesis:
Intimal dissection causes aortic dilatation and creation of false lumen, into which blood collects.

Risk factors:

1. Smoking
2. Clinical vascular disease
3. Male
4. Old age
5. Hypertension
6. Hyperlipidemia
7. Family history of AAA

Signs and Symptoms:
Normal vital signs may be present initially with rupture, but patients can become severely hypotensive rapidly.
Abdomen usually presents as asymptomatic palpable pulsatile nontender mass, with bruits. Abdominal palpation is an important symptom.

Diagnosis:
Abdominal ultrasound or other imaging.

Treatment:

• Surgery recommended for AAA > 5.5 cm or symptomatic AAA of any diameter.

• Surgery for AAA <>
• Intervention not recommended for asymptomatic infrarenal or juxtrarenal AAA <>