When To Call A Professional

Contact your doctor's office if you notice a pulsating mass in your abdomen and otherwise feel well. If you have abdominal, back or flank pain associated with a pulsating mass, this is a medical emergency and requires immediate attention.

Prognosis

The outlook for an untreated abdominal aortic aneurysm depends on its size. An abdominal aortic aneurysm larger than 7 centimeters in diameter has a 75% chance of rupturing within 5 years. At 6 centimeters, the risk of rupture is 35% over 5 years and between 5.0 to 5.9 centimeters, the rupture risk is about 25% over 5 years. Below 5 centimeters (2 inches), the risk of rupture is much lower.

With successful surgical repair, the prognosis is good and depends more on the severity of atherosclerosis affecting other organs, especially the heart, brain and kidneys.

Additional Info

American Heart Association (AHA) 7272 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX 75231 Toll-Free: (800) 242-8721 Fax: (214) 706-2139 http://www.americanheart.org/

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) 6701 Rockledge Dr. P.O. Box 30105 Bethesda, MD 20824-0105 Phone: (301) 592-8573 E-Mail: Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/