Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Repair

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) involves a widening, stretching or ballooning of the aorta. This condition can affect anyone, but it is most often seen in men 40 to 70 years old.The exact cause is unknown, but risks include hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure. Causes of an AAA include injury, infection and weakening of the artery wall.

Ruptured aneurysm occurs in approximately 5 out of 10,000 people. This is a medical emergency during which the aneurysm breaks open, resulting in profuse bleeding. Survival of ruptured aortic aneurysm is less than 50 percent; therefore, repair before rupture is highly recommended.