What exactly is an abdominal aortic aneurysm and how can it be so scary? You may be unfamiliar with abdominal aortic aneurysms, but they are actually not uncommon. Einstein and Li Siguang passed away because of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. The abdominal aorta is the large artery in the abdomen of the human body. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a disease caused by some reason that causes this blood vessel to dilate and swell to a certain degree. Aneurysm is not the same as what we usually understand as a tumor, it is not strictly speaking a tumor, much less a cancer. For example, if a tumor is found in the breast, the benign ones are fibroids and the malignant ones are breast cancer. In contrast, abdominal aortic aneurysm is due to the expansion of blood vessels, just like a balloon blowing up. It is a benign disease in itself, but at a certain point it becomes very dangerous. A balloon will burst if it is blown up, and so will this aneurysm, which is a high-speed flow of arterial blood. According to statistics, the incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysm is about 8% among 65-year-olds, and the mortality rate after rupture of the aneurysm is up to 90% or more. What are the symptoms of abdominal aortic aneurysm? In the early stages of abdominal aortic aneurysms, or when they are not expanded to a certain size, there are usually no abnormalities. For abdominal aortic aneurysms less than 4.5 cm in diameter, the risk of rupture is relatively small, and a throbbing mass in the abdomen may be felt only occasionally. It is usually not easy to detect in the early stage, especially for people who have more flesh on their stomach. It should be noted here that this blood vessel, which is behind our stomach and close to the spine, cannot be felt in general, but in many people with thin body types, the beating of the abdominal aorta can be felt under normal circumstances, so there is no need to be nervous. As the aneurysm increases in size, a number of abnormalities may gradually appear. The first of these is pain. Sometimes the patient may feel a slight pain, because the mass is large and uncomfortable there. In larger diameter abdominal aortic aneurysms, the shell becomes thin and pressure leads to increased tension and tugging, which can also be painful. When the pain increases, it often signals that the aneurysm is about to rupture or has even ruptured, which necessitates immediate medical attention. Another symptom is arterial embolism in the lower extremities. Due to the local expansion of the blood vessel, the blood flow will create a vortex, and this vortex will cause a thrombus to form in the inner layer of the aneurysm, which is medically known as an attached thrombus. Once these clots are dislodged, they will flow with the blood to the lower extremities, causing embolism of the lower extremity arteries. Patients may experience sudden pain in the lower extremities, coldness, purple color, or even inability to walk. In some cases, abdominal aortic aneurysms are discovered because of problems in the lower extremities. How is an abdominal aortic aneurysm treated? Abdominal aortic aneurysms are not likely to heal on their own, nor are drugs likely to make them shrink; surgery is the only chance. As the diameter of the aneurysm expands, the risk of rupture increases. In general, Chinese people with aneurysms up to 5 cm in diameter should consider surgical intervention, especially women. Traditional surgery opens the stomach, which is not a small opening, and the whole belly becomes two halves. Finding the dilated artery and replacing it with an artificial vessel can be effective, but it is very traumatic and has many complications. With advances in devices as well as technology, most abdominal aortic aneurysms can now be treated with minimally invasive surgery, requiring only two small incisions at the root of the thighs bilaterally, and stenting through the femoral artery into the abdominal aorta to cover the aneurysm. The aneurysm is successfully isolated before and after stenting of the abdominal aortic aneurysm What can be done? For elderly people older than 65 years old, especially those with long-term hypertension and atherosclerosis, you can often feel your stomach to see if there are any beating masses. In addition, when examining the body, you may want to check an abdominal ultrasound when focusing on cardiovascular disease. When a suspicious problem is found, it is recommended to visit the vascular surgery department immediately.