Conditions & Treatments

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

The aorta is the body's main artery. An aneurysm is a bulge in its wall that enlarges slowly and silently over years — most people feel nothing at all, and aneurysms are usually found on a scan done for another reason. Small aneurysms are safely watched; larger ones are repaired before they can rupture. My job is to tell you honestly which one yours is, and to watch or fix it accordingly.

Common signs

  • Usually none — found incidentally on ultrasound or CT
  • A pulsing sensation in the abdomen
  • Sudden severe abdominal or back pain is an emergency — call 911

How I treat it

  • Screening — a one-time ultrasound is reasonable for those at higher risk, especially men over 65 who have smoked; it takes minutes in our office
  • Surveillance — scheduled periodic ultrasound follow-up in our office lab for aneurysms that don't yet need repair, to evaluate for any changes over time
  • EVAR (endovascular aneurysm repair) — the minimally invasive standard for most anatomy: a stent-graft placed through small groin punctures relines the aorta from the inside
  • Open repair — for anatomy where it's the more durable choice
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