An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a potentially fatal abnormal swelling (often balloon-like) of a segment of the body's largest artery, the aorta. The side wall of the artery bulges out rather than remaining straight.
The aorta carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to smaller arteries throughout the body. An abdominal aneurysm occurs in the abdominal aorta, the part of the aorta between the bottom of the chest and the pelvis.
Normally, the aorta is about one inch (2.5 centimeters)...
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Source: HealthCentral Encyclopedia
Article updated and reviewed by Neil Siecke, MD, Clinical Insturctor, UCSD Division of Cardiology on July, 28 2005.An aortic aneurysm is a weak spot... Read more »
Rudy Boesch, a participant on “Survivor” and former Navy Seal, was nearly stricken by AAA, but an inadvertent detection allowed him to receive... Read more »
Source: HealthCentral Encyclopedia
A localized dilation of the wall of a blood vessels, usually caused by atherosclerosis and hypertension, or less frequently, by trauma, infection, or... Read more »
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
Aortic aneurysm - dissectingSymptomsThe symptoms usually begin suddenly, and include severe chest pain. The pain may:Be described as sharp, stabbing,... Read more »
It is estimated that more than one million people are living with undiagnosed abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and at least 95 percent of these can... Read more »