The cardiovascular diseases

ANEURYSM OF THE ABDOMINAL AORTA

- Definition
- A few explanations
- The symptoms
- What does the physician notice?
- How to make the diagnosis?
- Once the diagnosis made, an operative check-up is required
- Complications
- The causes
- Clinical shape, Evolution, Prognosis
- Treatment, Conclusion

CLINICAL SHAPE: the thoraco-abdominal aneurysms

They are most often associated to a thoracic or abdominal aneurysm, or participate in a global dilation of the aorta. There, the operative risks are more important.

EVOLUTION

The risk of rupture depends on the size of the aneurysm. It is of 15% in case of 4 cm diameter, of 75% if the diameter is 8 cm. A 6 cm diameter constitutes a critical point in the aneurismal evolution. These results plead in favour of a fast intervention in case of aneurysm of the abdominal aorta with a >50 mm diameter.

PROGNOSIS

The prognosis is function ofthe moment when the aneurysm is discovered and of the atheromatous ground: good or even excellent in case of latent aneurysm and limited or non-significant atheromatous lesions, mediocre in case of rupture on a diffuse atheromatous illness.

Previous     Next

File last modified on june 12, 2006