DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a 79-year-old female. I had a CT scan and ultrasound screening in September 2008. At that time they found an abdominal aortic aneurysm. One doctor said it was 4.8 centimeters but another said it was 4.2. Both told me that that nothing would be done until it reached 5 or 6 and at that point surgery would be recommended.
My question to you is, what do I do now?
DEAR READER:
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are potentially fatal areas of bulging or ballooning of the large blood vessel that supplies the abdomen, pelvis and legs. They can occur in anyone but are most common in males over 60 with one or more risk factors.
Those factors include emphysema, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, being male, and certain genetic factors. There is no known cause.
In most cases, the aneurysm is found during routine screening tests or imaging studies for other conditions. Most aneurysms do not cause symptoms. They usually develop slowly over time but occasionally expand rapidly leading to rupture, dissection (bleeding from the inner wall into the outer wall of the vessel) or other symptoms. All aneurysms carry risks but small ones generally go unnoticed. Large aneurysms are more serious and are more likely to rupture spontaneously and cause symptoms.
Symptoms are usually the result of rupture or dissection and include nausea, vomiting, back or abdominal pain, anxiety, clammy skin, an abdominal mass, abdominal rigidity, rapid heart rate upon standing, a pulsating sensation in the abdomen, and shock. Rupture is a medical emergency and immediate attention is necessary.
Treatment is available. Small, non-symptomatic aneurysms should be monitored on a yearly basis to check for expansion. If the aneurysm causes symptoms, rapidly expands, or is larger than 5.5 centimeters, surgery is often done to prevent complications such as leaks or rupture.
There are currently two types of surgery available. The first is a traditional version which involves making a large incision. The damaged vessel is then replaced with a synthetic material. The second is called endovascular stent grafting which uses several smaller incisions in the groin to access the vessels. The grafting material is then snaked up the artery and put into place in the abnormal area. This type of surgery may have a faster healing time but is not recommended for every sufferer.
If surgery is successfully performed before rupture, the outcome is generally favorable. However, if rupture occurs, less than 40% of patients survive.
I urge you to follow your surgeon’s advice. If you smoke, are overweight or have other risk factors, take steps to reduce or eliminate them. If you are still concerned, request a referral for another opinion.
To give you related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports “An Informed Approach to Surgery” and “Blood — Donations and Disorders”. Other readers who would like copies should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 per report to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title(s).
About Dr. Gott