The aorta located in the chest is called the thoracic aorta, while the abdominal aorta is located in the abdominal cavity.
It is the abdominal aorta that delivers blood to the lower parts of the body. Splitting into two parts, it carries blood on both legs.
When the weakened abdominal aorta begins to stretch and bulge out of the skin, this will be an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta.
By tapping and puffing like a balloon, an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta is a consequence of increased blood pressure. The size of a normal aorta is about two centimeters in diameter.
Aneurysm of the aorta of the abdominal cavity inflates the artery, which creates an increased risk for the normal functioning of the body: as a result of swelling and stretching, an abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture may occur. The aortic rupture is usually followed by internal bleeding, often leading to the death of the patient.
Causes of abdominal aortic aneurysm
Causes can be quite diverse.
Main causes include atherosclerosis and certain risk factors, such as hypertension.
In addition, there are still the following risk factors:
- smoking;
- high blood pressure;
- genetic predisposition;
- male gender;
- age over 60 years.
It is age that increases the risk of aneurysm development.
Symptoms of aneurysm of the abdominal aorta
Quite often an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta passes without any noticeable symptoms.
The most common symptoms of an aneurysm are: 
- pain in the lower limbs;
- blurred skin of the legs;
- weakness;
- dizziness;
- loss of consciousness;
- pulsation and bloating;
- sensation of raspiraniya and heaviness in the abdomen;
- abdominal pain( the most common symptom).
Diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm
Very often an aneurysm is detected with ultrasound, conducted on another occasion .
For the diagnosis of an aneurysm, you can use:
- X-ray contrast angiography;
- MRI( magnetic resonance imaging);
- spiral computed tomography;
- ultrasound scanning.
The dissecting aneurysm of the abdominal aorta is very rare.
More often, exfoliating an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta can be seen when it is a continuation of the dissecting aneurysm of the thoracic aorta.
At the initial stages of the disease, there is a strong, sudden pain in the waist and abdomen, accompanied by vomiting and nausea. Developing collapse.
Aneurysm of the abdominal aorta is developed from arterial hypertension.
Treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm
Please note that the first symptoms of an abdominal aortic aneurysm may appear at the time of rupture and marked bleeding, when the likelihood of a fatal outcome increases to 90-100%.
Due to all of the above, doctors can offer only one single method of its treatment: excision of the affected vessel and its replacement with an artificial prosthesis at the first occurrence of complications.
To date, only two methods of surgical treatment are known:
- endoprosthetics( an artificial prosthesis is inserted into the aneurysm cavity through the incision in the groin);
- open surgery( excision of the affected area and its replacement with a synthetic prosthesis).
An open aneurysm of the abdominal aorta is performed through a cut in the abdominal wall, under anesthesia( general anesthesia).
The prosthesis of the aorta is not rejected by the patient's body and serves him faithfully for the rest of his life.
Stay healthy!
Video: Treatment of an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta
The aorta is the largest artery in the human body.
