Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a widening of the lower portion of the aorta, a major artery in the body.  The aorta leads from the heart, and extends down through the chest and abdomen.  An aneurysm, which is a bulging of the artery due to weakness of the artery wall, can rupture and cause significant internal bleeding which is a life-threatening emergency. It is very important if you or a loved-one experiences signs of AAA that you immediately seek medical care. 

From AAA diagnosis to surgical intervention, our vascular surgeons at Sound Vascular & Vein have the experience, expertise, and commitment to high quality patient care. 

Risk factors of AAA include high blood pressure and atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Men develop AAA much more often than women and a family history of aneurysms also increases your risk. By far the strongest risk factor is smoking. Smoking can weaken the aortic walls, increasing the risk of rupture. The longer you smoke or chew tobacco, the greater the chance of developing AAA.