An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the aorta that develops in areas where the aorta wall is weak. The aorta is the main blood vessel carrying oxygen-rich blood to other parts of the body. The pressure of the blood pumping through it causes the weakened section to bulge out like a balloon.
An aneurysm can develop in any section of the aorta, but the most common type is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA). It occurs in the part of the aorta that passes through the abdomen.
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms occur in the part of the aorta located in the chest area. They may not produce symptoms until the aorta bursts, causing chest or back pain.
A Thoracic Aortic Dissection is a tear that causes a ballooning of the aortic wall which can then rupture. Symptoms include constant chest or upper back pain that may feel like a “tearing” pain.
Aneurysms can grow in size over time. As an aneurysm expands, it can start to cause symptoms. When an aneurysm gets too large, it can rupture and cause life-threatening bleeding or instant death without any prior warning.
A blood clot may also form in the aneurysm. Small pieces of a blood clot can break off and travel throughout the body. If a fragment of a clot gets stuck in the brain or a heart blood vessel, it can cause a stroke or a heart attack.
A frustrating fact is that most people with an abdominal aortic aneurysm do not have any symptoms at all. The aneurysm is usually discovered by X-ray during a routine exam for an unrelated health issue.
Many aortic aneurysms will grow slowly for years before they are large enough to cause symptoms. And even then, a large aneurysm may not cause any symptoms, thereby delaying a proper diagnosis.
When symptoms do occur, pain in the abdomen is most common. The pain may be occasional or constant. Some people describe a pulsing sensation in the abdomen which can be a warning sign of an AAA.
If an abdominal aortic aneurysm is suspected, your doctor may use ultrasound or CT scanning to investigate it. When an AAA is confirmed, a vascular specialist will use several imaging tests to gather more information regarding its size, shape and exact location in the abdomen. (CT scans and MRIs are typically used to diagnose thoracic aortic aneurysms.)
Per preventive screening guidelines from the Society for Vascular Surgery and the Society for Vascular Medicine and Biology, abdominal ultrasound screening is recommended for the following people:
- All men age 60 to 85
- All women age 60 to 85 who have cardiovascular risk factors
- All men and women age 50 and older with a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysm
Medicare now offers a one-time, no-cost abdominal ultrasound to qualifying seniors within the first 12 months of enrollment. Men or women who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes during their lifetime, as well as men and women with a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysm, also qualify for the Medicare screening.
Some of the same risk factors for a heart attack also increase the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm, including:
- Plaque in the artery walls (atherosclerosis)
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- Family history of aortic aneurysm
Treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms continues to evolve by offering patients more sophisticated solutions. The endovascular approach remains a preferred treatment for AAAs.
During an endovascular procedure, the surgeon inserts a stent-graft inside a catheter (a long, thin tube) and guides it to the site of the aneurysm. Once securely in place, the stent-graft creates a new passageway for blood flow without pushing on the aneurysm.
After an endovascular stent-graft is inserted, you must visit your doctor regularly to monitor its position with CT scanning.
For people who are not candidates for endovascular repair, open surgery is an option. During the procedure, a synthetic graft is stitched into place to connect it with the healthy aorta on either side of the diseased area. After surgery, the new synthetic section of the blood vessel functions like a normal, healthy aorta.
Again, your doctor will want to see you regularly to conduct a physical exam and run diagnostic tests. The doctor will use the information gathered from these visits to monitor the progress of your treatment.
If you have been diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm or have received treatment for an aneurysm, it’s important that you lead a heart-healthy lifestyle. It is up to you to take any prescribed medications, attend follow-up appointments and be an active member of your health care team.
You can help improve your health by:
- Quitting smoking
- Treating high cholesterol
- Managing high blood pressure and diabetes
- Exercising regularly
- Eating a heart-healthy diet
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Reducing stress and anger
- Taking prescribed medications as directed
- Following up with your doctor for regular visits
I get a pulsating pain it feels like my stomach is being pushed up under my rib cage on my left hand side it’s so unbearable painful I have been to my doctor on regular visits and they dont seem to take in what I am saying to them they more or less say its acid but I feel it’s more than that
Hi, did you sort your pulsating pain under left ribs? I’ve got the same and it goes into.my side, had normal.blood tests and ultrasound and have been referred to a surgeon, also have extreme tiredness and night sweats do.im thinking it’s the spleen although I firstly got pain under right rib and back
Its all driving me mad!
Pamela, how are you doing? Have you gotten any answers? I have the same symptoms you describe.
Pamela any updates ?
I have that same feeling on left side under bottom left rib, it comes and goes but has been coming more often.
Just wondering if you have received any answers? I don’t have pain but feel the same way with left side fullness and like it’s being pushed up under my rib cage. It happens at times and then goes away. My doctor also just told me to have more finger and start healing metimucal
Sorry, was supposed to say to start eating more fiber and start taking metimucil.
I get a periodical pulsating pain in a complete circle from my belly button around the other side to my belly button again and between that area. My grandfather and my mother’s side had an aortic aneurysm late in life. Should I be concerned? And I notice it happens more frequently when my heart rate is up.
I would defenitly get a referal for endoscopy clinic, to look at your insides. Dont worry about cost, worry about your health. I say this because it sounds like you have put this off way too long.
Mine is pulsating fast but periodically on my right lumbar stomach, it has no pain and swelling, no back pain but it brings discomfort to me. When its throbbing It goes away then goes back. I don’t know what to do with it. It feels annoying when it happens.
Pamela, if it’s acid they should have prescribed something like Prilosec, and if it didn’t help then you need more tests. But if your doctors don’t want to give you those tests, you need to see another doctor!
I’ve got a pain in my left side which is heading down my stomach it feels like someone is giving my Chinese burns from the inside
Hi iv got a hiatus hernia and a prolasped ballder I am a young active 60yrs of age female . But since August last year .I started having upper back ache .so I phone my doctor .she said take paracetamol s or ibuprofen . I took paracetamol for a month the tryed ibuprofen for anther month it seemed like it was aching worse so I did light jobs 7n home incase it was something to do with my bladder prolaspe . But the doctor insisted it wasn’t. After Xmas it was still hurting more so I phone my doctors and she said ill do a x-ray and it came back satisfactory .that was in February. So then my doctor said excirscise s throepy which I started to do on the second week of doing them it got worse and I got up one morning feeling a bad beating feeling in my back and couldn’t stand for long to do house hold jobs in the kitchen and head hurt and eye felt like the light ws hurting them so I’d close and open them while trying to do my jobs then I’d have to sit down now im getting pain in my abdominal area and navel . I can’t do any jobs and I’m in pain most of the time I need a ct scan a whole body . See if there is anything going wrong I feel so poorly it hurts when I walk doctor s said they’ll send me for different out paicent test but I need to be got in now not it 2 months time I rely feel there’s something wrong . I need scan to rule out there nothing serious as feel there is . But my doctors are insisting to wait till my aportments come through im walking the floor most days with pain I have to sit or it start so bad and take pain killers which don’t take it of wen it come on . Iv been like this walking the floor celery day since end off Feb and I cant take much more
I am 66 with a few stents, I sometimes get tiny little pulsing pains sometimes,they last about 2 minutes then go, a little strange.Will mention it to Cardiologist. Don’t smoke exercise, don’t eat red meat.its just getting old I guess.
I have pulses on my left abdomen, feel it strong when laying on my left side, then tenderness on that side other wise.
I have the same symptoms I get a pulsating in my mid upper left side of stomach and when I lay on either side it feels like it’s taking my breath away
I have pulses on my left abdomen, feel it strong when laying on my left side, then tenderness on that side other wise.
I have the same symptoms I get a pulsating in my mid upper left side of stomach and when I lay on either side it feels like it’s taking my breath away