An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is defined as an enlargement of the aorta of at least 1.5 times its normal diameter or greater than 3 cm diameter in total (1)
Majorty of AAAs are usually located between diaphragm and the aortic bifurcation. It can be classified
The disease is caused by a degenerative process involving all layers of the vessel wall. Four events can be identified in the pathophysiology of the AAA:
Most AAAs are asymptomatic, and they are often diagnosed opportunistically during clinical examination or investigation for another condition. Because of this it is difficult to establish their prevalence. There is a national screening programme which enrols men at age 65 and suggests a prevalence of about 1.3% in this population. The prevalence is falling (3).
The prevalence of AAAs is approximately 6 times lower in women, but the rate of aneurysm rupture is significantly higher (3).
Reference:
Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page